DEFENCE

Arctic Convoys (Medals)

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason he has refused to allow veterans of World War II Arctic convoys to receive the Defence of the Soviet Arctic Region medal; and if he will reconsider the decision.

Lewis Moonie: Ministry of Defence has not refused veterans of the Second World War who participated in the convoys to Russia permission to wear the Defence of the Soviet Arctic Region medal. Any official approach from a foreign Government requesting permission to distribute foreign medals to British citizens would be the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In this case I am advised that the Russians have made no such request. However, if the Russian authorities ask for their Defence of the Soviet Arctic Region Medal to be officially recognised, the matter will be carefully deliberated, as are all similar requests from foreign governments.

D-day

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has made to mark the 60th anniversary of D-day.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 31 October 2002, Official Report, column 881W, to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin).

Information Display System (Royal Navy)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what problems have been experienced with the Royal Navy's Joint Tactical Information Display System.

Lewis Moonie: Difficulties experienced on the Royal Navy's Joint Tactical Information Distribution System have concerned the complex integration activity inherent in such a programme. The programme is now proceeding satisfactorily on the basis of incremental capability delivery.

Military Personnel

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the past year disciplinary action has been taken against military personnel accused of giving false evidence in criminal proceedings; what action was taken in each case.

Lewis Moonie: Two Service personnel have had action taken against them in the last year for perverting the course of public justice and received sentences of military detention.

National Service Veterans

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to award medals to national service veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: None. It has never been the Government's policy to consider service in the armed forces as the sole justification for the institution of a medal.

National Service Veterans

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to erect a national monument to conscripted National Servicemen; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: None. In accordance with the long established policy of successive Governments, the cost of erecting war memorials or their subsequent maintenance is not met from public funds but from private donations or public subscription. National Servicemen will be included in the eligibility criteria for the Armed Forces Memorial which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 20 March 2002, Official Report, column 313W and 21 March 2002, Official Report, column 449W.
	I understand that a plot of land at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire has been allocated for a private initiative to erect a memorial specifically for National Servicemen.

New Zealand Test Veterans

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations Her Majesty's Government has made concerning the financial support provided by the New Zealand government to New Zealand test veterans to support research into the health impact on them of British nuclear tests.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has made no representations concerning financial support provided by the New Zealand Government to New Zealand nuclear test veterans to support research into the health impact on them of British nuclear tests.

Nuclear Test Veterans

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions his Department has had with organisations concerning nuclear test veterans.

Lewis Moonie: The chief executive of the Veterans Agency met with representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association on 19 December 2001.

Private Alison Croft

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the result has been of the investigation into the circumstances of the death of Private Alison Croft at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, Oxfordshire on 2 October; at what time police were called; what steps were taken to secure evidence at the scene of the death; what the conclusions were of their inquiry; what was the nature of the post mortem examination, by whom it was carried out; and what were the findings; at what time were relatives of the deceased notified; and what arrangements he has made for (a) an inquest and (b) a board of inquiry.

Lewis Moonie: Private Alison Croft died at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, on 28 September 2002. The associated civilian police investigation is still ongoing. In light of this, it would be inappropriate to comment on the circumstances of the investigation at this time.
	Her Majesty's Coroner is the appropriate authority to determine the arrangements for an inquest, not the Ministry of Defence, although the Department will aim to provide assistance where required. A determination has yet to be made as to whether a Board of Inquiry will be held.

Reservists

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for regular reservists to receive the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Lewis Moonie: There are no plans to amend the qualifying criteria for the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to include those who had left the armed forces before 6 February 2002, regardless of whether they had a reserve liability or not.

Royal Irish Regiment

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the total combined strength of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment had been for (a) part-time and (b) full-time soldiers in each year since its formation;
	(2)  how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time soldiers are enlisted with each of the Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment.

Lewis Moonie: The Royal Irish Regiment was formed from the amalgamation of the Royal Irish Rangers and the Ulster Defence Regiment on 1 July 1992. The combined strength of the Home Service Battalions as at that date for each year since its formation is included in the table:
	
		
			 Year Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 1992 2,854 2,640 
			 1993 2,831 2,611 
			 1994 2,842 2,385 
			 1995 2,876 2,197 
			 1996 2,775 2,023 
			 1997 2,614 1,974 
			 1998 2,576 1,961 
			 1999 2,257 1,866 
			 2000 2,163 1,713 
			 2001 2,019 1,603 
			 2002 1,846 1,458 
		
	
	There are currently three Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment in Northern Ireland. As at 1 October 2002, the number of part-time and full-time personnel, in each Home Service Battalion is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 2 R Irish 558 385 
			 3 R Irish 697 573 
			 4 R Irish 606 478 
		
	
	All figures do not include those R Irish employed at Headquarters and Depot R Irish.

Royal Naval Reserve (Chaplains)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Chaplain's Branch of the Royal Naval Reserve.

Lewis Moonie: There is currently no Chaplains' Branch in the Royal Naval Reserve, it having been disestablished in the early nineties. However, a Chaplains' Branch is scheduled to be re-established as a Royal Naval Reserve branch and this will take effect from 1 January 2003. The Branch will have 18 members, who will be part of a Naval Home Command headquarters unit, trained and administered by the Director General Naval Chaplaincy Service. They will be appointed to Naval Bases and Shore Establishments, where they will be liable for duty should it be necessary for regular Naval Service Chaplains to be deployed operationally.

Service Applicants

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people applied to join the (a) Army and (b) Naval Service and (c) Royal Air Force in each of the past five years; and how many of those were accepted.

Lewis Moonie: The number of people who applied for and joined the armed forces since 1 April 1998 are as follows:
	
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(1) 
		
		
			 Naval Service  
			 Applications 14,858 14,805 14,694 13,975 7,097 
			 Intake 4,770 4,950 4,620 5,013 2,470 
			  
			 Army  
			 Applications 41,389 42,498 33,332 38,929 20,655 
			 Intake 16,267 16,480 14,410 14,782 8,670 
			  
			 RAF  
			 Applications 22,393 21,572 20,689 19,453 9,126 
			 Intake 4,250 4,100 3,630 3,783 2,060 
		
	
	(1) Figures for 2002–03 show the position as at 30 September 2002.

TA Bounty

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the rationale is behind the target of 60 per cent. for members of the TA to achieve their bounty each year; and what the target was in each year since 1997.

Lewis Moonie: The Territorial Army does not set any targets for members to achieve bounty, and has never done so. The criteria for awarding a bounty are: completion of a 15-day period of continuous training; or, if authorised, a reduced camp of eight days. In addition, Independent TA personnel must undertake out camp training for 12 days (this is reduced to four days for Specialists) and achieve three passes in individual Training Directives 1–5 (this is reduced to two passes for Specialists). Finally, all personnel must be awarded the COs Certificate of Efficiency in order to qualify for a bounty.
	There is currently a Fit For Role target of 60 per cent. of the TA's strength. The rationale behind this target is based on the fact that the TA is at least 5 per cent undermanned; on average 25 per cent. of all TA are under recruit or Class 3 training at any one time; and up to 10 per cent. of members are unable to meet the training commitments for personal or business reasons. Between training years 1996–97 and 2001–02 the TA employed a Fit For Role target of 55 per cent. of strength. We expect that the TA will meet the target of 60 per cent. of this financial year.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Quality

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to empower local authorities to provide mandatory air quality monitoring.

Alun Michael: Local authorities have a duty under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 to review and assess the air quality in their areas and to declare air quality management areas, where it appears that any air quality objective is unlikely to be met on time. This usually involves some monitoring of key pollutants, but the amount of monitoring varies from one authority to another depending upon the scale of any local air pollution problems.
	There are no plans to make air quality monitoring mandatory for all local authorities. This would be disproportionately expensive. Authorities may instead make use of air quality monitoring data from the national automatic monitoring network run by my Department. Where my Department feels that an authority, which has no monitoring of its own, should undertake some air quality monitoring in its area, we may issue directions to that local authority indicating that it must do so.
	We introduced the Air Quality Supplementary Credit Approval Programme to support authorities capital costs. Since 1997, the Government have awarded over #20 million to assist authorities with expenditure on air quality monitoring equipment, dispersion modelling and emissions inventories.

Animal By-products

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what strategies her Department intends to implement to meet the targets under the draft EU regulation on animal by-products.

Elliot Morley: There are no targets under the EU animal by-products regulation, but we intend to introduce a statutory instrument to give effect to the requirements of the regulation following consultation with industry and interested parties.

Animal By-products

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to revise the Animal By-products Order to include the composting or biogas digestion of kitchen and catering wastes containing meat.

Elliot Morley: We will shortly be consulting on an amendment to the Animal By-products Order, which will permit the treatment in approved composting or biogas plants of catering waste which contains meat or which comes from premises on which meat is handled. Approved premises would need to comply with treatment standards and hygiene requirements in line with recommendations made by an independent risk assessment commissioned by DEFRA.

Animal Diseases (EU Finance)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on applying to the European Commission for a share of the financial package to fight BSE and other animal diseases in the EU in 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: For 2003, the UK intended to apply to the European Commission with claims for funding for TB and Brucella for Northern Ireland and for TSE surveillance. These claims were not received by the Commission until after the 1 June 2002 deadline, and were judged to be ineligible.

Animal Movements

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government will take against those who disregard 20-day restrictions on animal movements from 1 January 2003 by refusing to complete standard movement documents.

Elliot Morley: Responsibility for enforcement of the animal movements legislation falls to Local Authorities. It is for each such authority to determine the appropriate action to take in the event of a breach of the legislation. It is in the interests of the farming industry as a whole, and of the wider rural economy, that farmers should complete these movement documents correctly and observe the animal movement controls in force, so as to help prevent any repeat of last year's outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of her Department and (b) visitors to her Department within the proposed central London road user charging zone.

Alun Michael: Within the proposed central London charging zone there are 16 car parking spaces available to employees of the Department, and nine car parking spaces available to visitors to the Department.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy is of her Department in relation to the reimbursement of central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Alun Michael: All civil servants are responsible for payment of their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a central London road user scheme will not affect this basic condition of service. We are currently considering our policy in relation to staff on official business who are required to drive their own or hire vehicles within the charging zone.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated cost is to her Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Alun Michael: Any additional costs which might accrue to the Department as a result of the congestion charging scheme would be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.

Correspondence

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will reply to the letter of Mr. Williams of Cockermouth, a constituent, of 2 December 2001.

Alun Michael: Information on letters sent direct to the Department from members of the public is not collated centrally. Such letters are referred to the relevant Division within the Department on receipt for answer.

Countryside Agency

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce the next five years funding for the Countryside Agency.

Alun Michael: I shall make a final decision on the Agency's resource allocation for 200304 shortly. I expect the allocation to be very near to #100 million, a considerable increase on this year's allocation of #92 million.

Countryside Agency

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the different financial models she is considering for the future of the Countryside Agency.

Alun Michael: As I announced on 8 November a review of rural policy delivery arrangements will commence shortly, led by Lord Haskins. Its remit will encompass all aspects of the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery arrangements, including those which are currently the responsibility of the Countryside Agency.

Emissions

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what emissions of (a) carbon monoxide, (b) hydrocarbons, (c) oxides of nitrogen and (d) particulates are generated by the average UK oil central heating domestic boiler.

Alun Michael: We estimate that in 2000 there were approximately 760,000 households using oil for central heating in the UK, burning a total of 2.25 million tonnes of oil annually. Emissions from individual boilers vary depending on the amount of use, and their efficiency and maintenance. However, we estimate that average annual emissions per boiler in 2000 were as follows:
	
		
			 Pollutant Average annual emissions per boiler 
		
		
			 Carbon Monoxide 0.49kg 
			 Hydrocarbons1 1.3kg 
			 Oxides of Nitrogen 6.5kg 
			 Particles (PM10) 0.09kg 
		
	
	1 Hydrocarbons includes volatile organic compounds and methane

Horticultural Research Institute

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to transfer scientists from Wellesbourne back to HRI Efford; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will make a statement about the conclusions of the 2002 Quinquennial Review of the Horticultural Research Institute in so far as it affects the future of Efford.

Elliot Morley: The Quinquennial Review report on Horticulture Research International was published on 23 September for public consultation. This consultation period closed on 18 November, and we hope to be able to make a statement on the way forward shortly.

IT Security

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to review the security of the Department's IT system; and how many digital attacks there were on the Department's system in (a) October and (b) 2002.

Alun Michael: IT security in the Department is kept under continuous review.
	The number of cases of digital attacks detected was (a) 34 in October and (b) 564 in 2002. These attacks were all stopped by our existing security measures.

Recruitment (Over-50s)

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people employed in her Department are aged over 50.

Alun Michael: There are 1,570 people aged over 50 employed by the core Department.

Rural White Paper

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to review the (a) policy and (b) delivery of the Rural White Paper;
	(2)  when the review of the Rural White Paper will be published.

Alun Michael: On 8 November, I announced that there would be a review of the Rural White Paper, to ensure that delivery is on track and to identify ways of accelerating delivery of the Rural White Paper's vision. The review will be completed by summer 2003 and the results will inform our decisions on future delivery of rural policy.
	This work will be undertaken in parallel with the review of rural delivery mechanisms, led by Lord Haskins, and reporting to Ministers by summer 2003.

CABINET OFFICE

Better Regulation

Anthony Steen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many business leaders he has met in the last six months to discuss the Government's better regulation agenda.

Douglas Alexander: In the normal course of my duties I attend many functions and events at which I meet many business people and we speak on a wide range of topics including the Government's better regulation agenda.

Information Systems

Chris Bryant: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how often he meets the Government's e-Envoy to review the progress towards compatibility of information systems across Government.

Douglas Alexander: I meet regularly with the e-Envoy to discuss and review all aspects of delivering the e-Government strategy, including the compatibility and interoperability of the various information systems across Government.

Public Services

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what actions he is taking to improve the delivery of public services.

Douglas Alexander: The Delivery Unit continues to work in partnership with Departments and offers support in meeting key objectives. Its role is to ensure that the Government achieve their delivery priorities across the key areas of public service.
	Working closely with the Treasury, it will ensure that the Departments have in place effective delivery plans for their PSAs.

Sensitive Documents

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance he has given to Government departments to safeguard sensitive documents in their offices.

Douglas Alexander: Policy guidance on safeguarding sensitive documents is contained in the manual of protective security. The manual is produced by the Cabinet Office and distributed to all Government departments.
	This guidance covers all aspects pf protective security, including physical, document, information security and personnel security.

Public Appointments (Women)

Dari Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made by his Department in encouraging the number of women seeking public appointments.

Douglas Alexander: The Public Appointments Unit, in my Department, seeks to raise awareness of public appointments and actively encourages women to seek such appointments. It has participated in a national outreach campaign of regional seminars led by the Ministers for Women and organised by the Women and Equality Unit, to encourage more women to apply for national public appointments. These seminars have reached over 2,000 women from diverse backgrounds across the country.

PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

Pre-legislative Scrutiny

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will list for each Government Bill to be introduced this session the form of pre-legislative scrutiny to which it will be subject.

Robin Cook: The Queen's Speech indicated the Government's intention to submit a number of Bills for pre-legislative scrutiny this session. No decisions have been made as to the form of scrutiny to which they will be subjected.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ministerial visits have been made to Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime.

Mike O'Brien: Since the collapse of the Taliban, the following Ministers from Her Majesty's Government have visited Afghanistan (making a total of eight ministerial visits):
	Prime Minister, the right hon. Tony Blair, 7 January 2002,
	Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the right hon. Jack Straw, 1415 February 2002,
	Secretary of State for Defence, the right hon. Geoffrey Hoon during a visit to the region from 47 February 2002 and from 14 July 2002,
	Minister for the Armed Forces, the right hon. Adam Ingram, 3 April 2002, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence, Dr. Lewis Moonie, 20 June 2002,
	Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mike O'Brien, 1215 October 2002,
	Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Clare Short, 2830 October 2002.

Avient Air

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place in the past two years between British Government officials in (a) Zimbabwe, (b) other African countries and (c) the UK and (i) Mr Andrew Smith and (ii) other representatives of Avient Air with regard to (A) sales of military equipment and (B) other matters.

Bill Rammell: There has been no contact in the past two years, in either the UK or Zimbabwe, between Foreign Office officials and Andrew Smith or representatives of Avient Air regarding the sales of military equipment. To identify contacts in other African countries on other matters could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed central London road user charging zone.

Bill Rammell: 75 car parking spaces are available to FCO staff. A further eight spaces are available for visitors.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated cost is to his Department of the central London road user charging scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Bill Rammell: Any additional costs to this Department as a result of the congestion charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Bill Rammell: It is general departmental travel planning policy that staff should not use cars to commute to and from work. However, staff on official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the activities of Andrew Smith and Avient Air as referred to in paragraph 55 of the UN Experts Panel report on the DRC.

Bill Rammell: We have asked the UN for information regarding allegations made against British companies or UK nationals. We have yet to receive a response.

Departmental Staff (Over-50s)

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people employed in his Department are aged over 50.

Mike O'Brien: There are 1,233 (21 per cent.) people over 50 employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

General Ratko Mladic

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken with other Governments to bring to justice General Ratko Mladic at the International Court at The Hague.

Bill Rammell: We are very concerned about the lack of full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal on the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) by the Yugoslav Government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with President Kostunica during his visit to Belgrade on 6 November. We will continue to press hard for the apprehension and transfer of all those indicted by the ICTY, including Ratko Mladic.

Nepal

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Nepal.

Mike O'Brien: We remain extremely concerned about the conflict in Nepal, which has seen a continuing loss of life, a reduction in development and human rights abuses.
	We support the Nepalese Government's efforts in combating the Maoist insurgency and we condemn the Maoist's brutal attacks on the Nepalese security forces and her civilians.
	The political situation in Nepal remains fragile following the appointment of a caretaker government by the King of Nepal, but we have seen some positive progress by the new Government, including on issues such as anti-corruption measures and economic reform. While we acknowledge that the regrettable security situation has prevented the holding of elections, we believe that the preservation of the constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy are crucial. It is important that free, fair and credible elections are held as soon as the security situation allows.
	The UK will continue to provide support for Nepal for security development and peace-building. The UK hosted an international meeting in June, which concluded that an integrated strategy encompassing these strands was required to address the underlying causes of the conflict as well as immediately dealing with the insurgency. We are currently taking forward this strategy through the newly-formed International Support Group, which includes representatives from all the major donor countries and organisations in Kathmandu. I had the privilege to chair the first meeting during my trip to Nepal last month.
	Our development programme in Nepal is #22 million this year, and has been restructured, in the light of the conflict, to emphasise the delivery of tangible benefits to poor and excluded groups. An additional #6.7 million has been made available this year through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool.

Peru

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he plans to make to the Peruvian Government concerning the imprisonment of the trade union activist Walter Cubas Baltazar.

Bill Rammell: Our Embassy in Lima raised the matter with the Ministry of Justice in July. The Peruvian authorities have not yet decided on this case. Our Embassy will continue to monitor closely this and all other similar cases. The FCO contributes to human rights work in Peru in areas such as Freedom of Information and the work of the Ombudsman.

Taiwan

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has made to the Government of the People's Republic of China in relation to the siting of missiles in the Taiwan Straits.

Bill Rammell: We have made no representations specifically about missiles. However, we attach great importance to the avoidance of conflict in the Taiwan Straits, which could be very destabilising for the whole of the region and beyond. We take the view that the Taiwan question should be settled peacefully through negotiation between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. We are strongly opposed to the use of force. We take every suitable opportunity to convey our views to the Chinese Government.

Taiwan

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department supports the proposal of the European Parliament that an EU trade office be opened in Taiwan; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We understand that preparations for the establishment of an appropriate EU trade representative office in Taiwan are already under way and we welcome this development.

Visas

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being put in place to deal with the increase in visa applications at (a) the British embassy in Addis Ababa and (b) other diplomatic missions in Africa.

Bill Rammell: Visa applications worldwide for the UK are rising by 6.5 per cent. a year. We are modernising our process and procedures to tackle this. Earlier this year we introduced a number of streamlining measures in Addis Ababa and other parts of Africa. These measures are aimed at resolving applications more efficiently without compromising the quality of decision making. We have also agreed funding for two additional officers in the visa section at Addis Ababa.

Visas

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the daily banking operations of UK high commissions and embassies in relation to the granting of visas; which currencies are accepted; what basis is used for calculating local exchange rates; which national or international banking institutions are used to hold accounts; which companies conduct audits; and what differences there are to such practices in (a) Afghanistan, (b) Albania, (c) Algeria, (d) Angola, (e) Argentina, (f) Azerbaijan, (g) Bangladesh, (h) Benin, (i) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (j) Botswana, (k) Burma, (l) Cameroon, (m) Chile, (n) China, (o) Colombia, (p) Congo Republic, (q) Democratic Republic of Congo, (r) Ivory Coast, (s) Cuba, (t) Egypt, (u) Eritrea, (v) Ethiopia, (w) India, (x) Indonesia, (y) Iran, (z) Israel, (aa) Kazakhstan, (bb) Liberia, (cc) Libya, (dd) Macedonia, (ee) Malawi, (ff) Malaysia, (gg) Mexico, (hh) Mozambique, (ii) Nigeria, (jj) North Korea, (kk) Pakistan, (ll) Philippines, (mm) Romania, (nn) Russian Federation, (oo) Rwanda, (pp) Sierra Leone, (qq) South Africa, (rr) Sudan, (ss) Syria, (tt) Tanzania, (uu) Turkey, (vv) Uganda, (ww) United States, (xx) Venezuela, (yy) Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (zz) Zambia, (aaa) Zimbabwe and (bbb) euro-zone countries.

Jack Straw: Embassies and High Commissions are required to operate under the Consular Fees Regulations 1981 (Statutory Instrument 476 of 1981). This states that Xfees shall be paid in currency circulating at the place of payment, except that a consular officer shall have discretion to accept, in lieu of such currency, a cheque, money order, or other means of effecting payment in terms of that currency. The rate of exchange for calculating the equivalent of fees in terms of a foreign currency shall be based upon the rate of exchange which is generally prevailing on the date, and at the place of payment, but which may be adjusted by the consular officer in such a manner and to such extent as he considers to be expedient in the interests of administrative efficiency.
	The same rate of exchange is set for all posts in a country. The exchange rate used in euro-zone countries is set by the British Consulate General in Dusseldorf since the headquarters of the European Central Bank is based in Germany.
	Visa and consular fees are deposited into posts' official bank accounts. The decision as to which bank is used is taken by each individual post.
	All overseas posts' operations are liable to review from our own Ukvisas Reviews section, FCO's internal audit department and also to national audit office scrutiny.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Horticulture Review

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the completion date is for the Review of the Horticulture Sector; and what the timescale is for consultation by the agricultural industry.

Ian Pearson: The Review of the Northern Ireland Horticulture Sector was commissioned earlier this year to identify strategic opportunities for the development of the sector and provide a Development Plan for the future of the industry. I am pleased to report that the review has now been finalised and it is expected that publication of the Consultants' Report will be announced within the next two weeks.
	This is a wide-ranging review across all of the main sectors of horticulture and the views of industry stakeholders will be critically important in helping government determine future policy for the sector. For that reason it is intended to allow a 12 week period for consultation with due regard for the Christmas holiday period. The comments of those engaged in the industry will be most welcome and a detailed announcement on consultation arrangements will be made when the Report is published.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Basic Education

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department is giving to basic education.

Clare Short: The Government are strongly committed to mobilising the international community to meet the education and gender equality targets within the Millennium Development Goals. We have fully achieved the goals in this area set in our current Public Service Agreement, but recognise that there is still a huge challenge in getting to the 2015 objectives.
	Since 1997 we have committed #700 million to basic education and forecast support amounts to #1.3 billion over the next five years, either through education sector support or direct budget support. Of this, about #500 million will go to Africa and #800 million to Asia. These spending figures are forecasts, not targets or commitments, and depend on agreeing high quality programmes with our partners.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of her Department and (b) visitors to her Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone.

Clare Short: There are no car parking spaces generally available to either employees or visitors, within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone. The only spaces we have are for the three official cars, one disabled space, and one for the maintenance contractor vehicle.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the policy is of her Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Clare Short: Where Central London road user charges are necessarily incurred in the course of official business they will be reimbursed in the same way as any other legitimate expense. Charges will not be reimbursed where they form part of the cost of daily home to office travel.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated cost is to her Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Clare Short: The only direct costs that will be incurred by my Department are in respect of the three official vehicles. We estimate that the costs of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for the period 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003 to be around #400, and for the full financial year 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 to be around #3,000.

Environmental and Social Objectives

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals the Department has to follow up the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development with more environmental and social objectives.

Clare Short: The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) placed poverty eradication at the heart of efforts to achieve Sustainable development. It integrated sustainability into the existing international agenda and added some important new targets, such as the target of halving the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015.
	My Department does not have any proposals for more environmental and social objectives following WSSD. We are working to ensure that the international community delivers on the promises it made at the Doha meeting of the World Trade Organisation, the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development and at Johannesburg. We are working for a round of trade negotiations focused on making the international trade system fairer to developing countries, and to ensure that the commitments made at Monterrey to increase the level and improve the effectiveness of official development assistance are delivered.

Gender Disparity

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education in developing countries; and what her Department's strategy is for meeting targets related to this.

Clare Short: According to the recently published EFA Global Monitoring Report, girls' enrolment in primary school in developing countries improved in the 1990s. The girls' Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) increased by 4 percentage points, from 91.8 per cent. in 1990 to 96.2 per cent. in 1999. The Gender Parity Index (GPI), which measures the ratio between girls' and boys' enrolment rates, improved from 0.86 to 0.92 in developing countries.
	Gender-disaggregated data on secondary education is less readily available. The participation rates for girls are increasing, but where there are major gender disparities in primary education, this is amplified at the secondary level; hence some of the lowest levels of secondary enrolment for girls are in Central and West Africa.
	We are collaborating with a variety of partners to accelerate progress for girls' education. We are working with the UN Girls' Education Initiative to ensure stronger co-ordination among donors at the global and the national level. We are supporting a partnership with the World bank and UNICEF to develop sustainable strategies for girls' education in several countries. We have built close links with the gender unit in the Education group at the World bank to foster better integration of gender issues with international education initiatives.
	We have three initiatives under way to give greater support to DFID country advisers to address girls' education and mainstream it in their work. We have developed a manual on girls' education, which is currently being disseminated. We are working to provide gender modules for inclusion in existing training courses. We have improved access to key policy documents and practical tools by establishing a joint World bank/UNICEF/DFID website (www.girlseducation.org).
	We are also supporting southern civil society organisations, including the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in four countries (Rwanda, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi).

Rwanda and Uganda

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her meeting with the Presidents of Rwanda and Uganda on 17 October 2002.

Clare Short: The meeting was the second review of the Memorandum of Understanding Presidents Museveni and Kagame and I signed in November last year at Lancaster House. They committed themselves again to not interfering in each others' political and security affairs. They agreed to make more effective use of the mechanisms that had been put in place to resolve differences and to avoid recourse to the use of the media. The UK agreed to continue to act as third party in this process.
	Equally importantly the two Presidents agreed to work together to achieve peace and stability in the region. They urged President Mbeki of South Africa, as Chairman of the African Union, to convene a Regional Summit to call on all parties to fully implement the Pretoria and Luanda Agreements.
	Presidents Museveni and Kagame shared our concern at the situation in Burundi and agreed we should work together, especially with the Governments of Tanzania and South Africa, to get a get a cease fire agreed and support the Transitional National Government under the Arusha Accords.

Safe Water

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts the Government has made to ensure that the commitments made at the Johannesburg Summit to provide access to safe water are kept by all states.

Clare Short: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including the target to halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water, provide the focus of my Department's work. We are working to build an effective response by the international system to support developing countries in reducing poverty and achieving the MDGs. This includes supporting the United Nations Development Programme in monitoring progress by country towards the MDGs.
	An integrated approach to water supply, sanitation and hygiene is the best way to improve health and combat poverty. We currently support three major multilateral initiatives:
	The Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), a multi-donor programme administered by the World Bank. Its mission is to eradicate poverty by helping the poor gain sustained access to improved water and sanitation services.
	The Global Water Partnership, an international network to foster integrated water resource management
	The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), a concerted multi-donor organization designed to raise awareness and the political profile of sanitation, hygiene and safe water.
	In addition to multilateral co-operation, our commitment to achieve the 2015 water and sanitation targets includes bilateral programmes in many countries in the developing world including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, India, south Africa, Uganda, and Nigeria. My Department also supports UNICEF's water, environment and sanitation programme.

Southern Africa

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what emergency aid has been provided to Southern Africa in recent months.

Clare Short: We have made the following bilateral commitments since September 2001 in response to the humanitarian crisis in Southern Africa:
	
		
			 Date Country Description Total # million 
		
		
			 September 2001 Zimbabwe NGO feeding programme 4.0 
			  Zimbabwe WFP Emergency Appeal 3.5 
			  Malawi Targeted Inputs programme 3.75 
			 JanuaryMay 2002 Malawi NGO feeding programmes 4.4 
			  Malawi Winter Inputs programme 1.2 
			 June 2002 Zimbabwe WFP Regional Emergency Feeding Operation 7.0 
			  Lesotho WFP Regional Emergency Feeding Operation 1.56 
			  Malawi WFP Regional Emergency Feeding Operation 5.0 
			  Swaziland WFP Regional Emergency Feeding Operation 0.25 
			  Zambia WFP Regional Emergency Feeding Operation 5.0 
			  Zambia NGO food for work programme 1.02 
			  Region WFP logistical support in Johannesburg regional hub, Lesotho and Zimbabwe 0.51 
			  Region SADC vulnerability assessments to improve targeting 0.2 
			  Region IFRC Feeding HIV/AIDS affected people 2.5 
			  Region WHO regional health operation 0.13 
			  Malawi Targeted inputs programme 6.8 
			  Zimbabwe NGO agricultural inputs 5.0 
			  Zimbabwe WHO essential drugs and medicines 2.5 
			 September 2002 Zimbabwe NGO feeding programme 16.0 
			  Malawi/Region Nacala Rail-link 4.1 
			 October 2002 Zambia Agricultural recovery through NGO's and FAO 1.5 
			  Zambia Improved nutrition programme 1.2 
			  Zambia Support to the health sector 0.2 
			  Region OCHA Southern African Humanitarian Information Service 0.11 
			  Region Southern Africa Humanitarian Crisis Unit for monitoring and liaison 0.5 
			  Lesotho Livelihoods recovery through agriculture programme 1.0 
			  Zimbabwe Epidemic preparedness 1.2 
			  Zimbabwe Improved nutrition programme 1.1 
			 Total since September 2001  Humanitarian assistance and recovery programmes 81.23 
		
	
	
		Breakdown by country since September 2001
		
			 Country  
		
		
			 Malawi 25.25 
			 Zimbabwe 40.3 
			 Lesotho 2.56 
			 Swaziland 0.25 
			 Zambia 8.92 
			 Regional 3.95 
		
	
	In addition, our contribution to commitments by the European Commission to date is about #21.3 million.

Zimbabwe

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has detailed contingency plans for delivering food to the people of Zimbabwe in the event of an emergency.

Clare Short: The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is already an emergency to which my Department has been responding for over a year. To date we have committed more than #38 million for emergency food provision, health care, agricultural inputs, and monitoring. This has been successfully channelled through UN agencies and non-governmental partners.
	We are working closely with the internationally mandated organisations to ensure that appropriate contingency plans are in place for a number of scenarios, including the displacement of people. In the event of deterioration in the situation, we will continue to work with agencies already operational on the ground, with the capability, capacity, and access to deliver assistance.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 17 October regarding a constituent, ref: 517205.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 18 November 2002
	I regret that I am unable to trace this letter from the details given. If further information on the constituent's name and address could be forwarded to me, I will be happy to investigate the matter further.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 16 September, regarding a constituent, ref: 19031/2.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 18 November 2002
	A reply to the letter was sent on 12 November. I apologise for the delay in replying.

National Asylum Support Service (Liverpool)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made with the inquiry conducted into NASS supervision of Landmark Co. in Liverpool; and what change he proposes to make in relation to NASS.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The independent inquiry team has completed its investigation and I am expecting to receive the final report shortly. Until I have seen and considered the report I cannot say whether any changes will be made in relation to National Asylum Support Service (NASS).

Police Officers (Nottinghamshire)

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the number of police officers in Nottinghamshire Constabulary's 'B' Division.

John Denham: The deployment of Nottinghamshire Police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable to determine. At the end of March 2002 Nottinghamshire Police had 2,330 police officers, 55 more than in March 2001. The force also had 1,087 civilian support staff at the end of March, 48 more than in March of last year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

School Transport

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what quality standards are in place for home-to-school transport; and what changes to these standards (a) have taken place and (b) are planned.

Stephen Twigg: LEA contracted home-to-school transport services are covered by Best Value, which was introduced in the Local Government Act 1999 as a means of securing greater value for money from local government services. Best Value is a statutory requirement for local authorities.
	Should schools choose to purchase their own transport services DfES has produced the 'Purchasing Guide for Schools' which offers a working guide for school managers to help them set high quality standards when procuring and managing school transport contracts.

School Transport

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what funding mechanisms are available directly from his Department to (a) local authorities and (b) other education bodies for improving school transport in order to improve child truancy rates; and what the total amount paid from his Department was for improving school transport in each year since 1992;
	(2)  what research has been conducted and is planned by his Department on the implications on child truancy rates of changes in home-to-school transport which have taken place and which could arise from additional improvements in home-to-school transport.

Stephen Twigg: We are currently conducting research into the causes of absence from school in order to fully understand the issues. We are not specifically looking at truancy in relation to home-to-school transport, as previous research has not shown there to be a link. There is no funding directly available for improving school transport in order to improve child truancy rates.
	The DfES has spent the following amounts on home-to- school transport since 1992:
	
		
			  Total (# million) Percentage annual rise in expenditure 
		
		
			 199293 293  
			 199394 288  
			 199495 319 11 
			 199596 345 8 
			 199697 382 11 
			 199798 418 9 
			 199899 444 6 
			 19992000 485 9 
			 200001(2) 532 10 
		
	
	(2) provisional

Classroom Assistants (Ilford, North)

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve the (a) pay, (b) training and (c) career prospects of classroom assistants in Ilford, North.

David Miliband: The pay of teaching assistants is a matter for local authorities and schools to determine. A consultative document XDeveloping the role of school support staff was published on 22 October, and sets out plans for career routes and the creation of standards and training for a new higher level role for teaching assistants. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Website

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Department's website is managed internally or externally of the Department.

Stephen Twigg: A small core team within the Department for Education and Skills, run the Department's website, including managing a range of key partners who provide particular website services, for example: hosting of the website; design and building of new sub sites; user research and site measurement.

Dyslexia

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements are in place to assist pupils/students with specific learning disabilities, with particular reference to dyslexia, when they are completing tests or examinations; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: A wide range of special arrangements are in place to assist pupils with special educational needs, including those with specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, when they come to take tests and examinations.
	The arrangements for dyslexic candidates taking public examinations are determined by the relevant awarding bodies. The most common arrangement permitted for such candidates is additional time in which to complete the examination. The use of readers, writers and word processors are also permitted in exceptional circumstances. Appropriate evidence must support each case, and the decision rests with the awarding body.
	Special arrangements are also permitted in relation to the National Curriculum Assessment Key Stage tests. Details of these are set out in the XAssessment and Reporting Arrangements booklets produced by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, sent to all schools in England in October of the year before the tests are due to be taken. When considering what special arrangements might be needed, the focus should always be on the needs of the individual child. Arrangements might range from additional time to the use of readers, amanuenses, transcripts, communicators, signers, and rest breaks.

Education Projects (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the projects to which his Department has allocated funding in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire since 1 January 1997, indicating the amount in each case.

David Miliband: The following tables show the total amounts provided by the Department through the standards fund and capital programmes in the Chesham and Amersham constituency and Buckinghamshire local education authority since 199798. Chesham and Amersham figures are part of the Buckinghamshire figures.
	It is not possible to give the standards fund allocations within the Chesham and Amersham constituency. The standards fund includes both Government grant and local authority contributions. Copies of tables giving a breakdown of the funding for these programmes have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	
		Chesham and Amersham Constituency -- #
		
			 Year Voluntary aided schools capital New deal for schools capital(3) 
		
		
			 199798   
			 199899 531,568 119,633 
			 19992000 194,067 406,000 
			 200001 180,137 1,328,250 
			 200102 124,100  
			 200203 340,119  
		
	
	(3) Since 200001 capital support has been allocated to LEAs and schools on a formulaic basis. Buckinghamshire LEA will have details of funding going to individual schools.
	
		Buckingham local education authority -- #
		
			 Year Standards fund Voluntary aided schools capital New deal for schools capital 
		
		
			 199798 2,947,244 135,037 564,000 
			 199899 5,494,901 648,466 1,088,633 
			 19992000 10,542,386 520,335 1,622,015 
			 200001 15,498,610 460,299 5,543,081 
			 200102 19,417,523 762,071 5,600,000 
			 200203 21,457,110 6,928,634 10,300,00

Higher Education Finance

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has paid to universities in each of the past two years as special payments arising from the normal residence of students being in specified postcode areas.

Margaret Hodge: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) allocated #27 million in the 200102 academic year and #36 million in 200203 to higher education institutions in England in connection with the education of students from specified postcode areas.

IT Security

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to review the security of the Department's IT system; and how many digital attacks there were on the Department's system in (a) October and (b) 2002.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills has a dedicated team to assure that the Department's network and data are secure from attack. They have recently undertaken an exercise to achieve compliance with the Information Security Standard (BS7799) and all systems follow guidance outlined in the Central Government Manual of Protective Security.
	There were no digital attacks reported in either October or the whole of 2002.

Local Government Funding

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many representations his Department has received from Eddisbury constituency residents about local government funding in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the arguments in those representations.

David Miliband: The Department has answered 88 letters in connection with the funding of schools in Cheshire over the last year. Six of these letters were from the hon. Member, but it is not possible to identify which Cheshire constituency the rest came from. In addition a number of Cheshire residents responded to the consultation on Local Government Funding reform which closed on 30 September: to identify precisely these letters from among the very large numbers of responses to the consultation would incur disproportionate cost.
	We are carefully considering all responses to the consultation document and will publish an analysis by the time of the provisional settlement for 200304, when we will announce decisions on the new funding system.

Qualifications (Children in Care)

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent research his Department has conducted into the educational qualifications obtained by children in residential care compared to those of similar ages in the general population; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The Department has recently conducted (or been involved in) extensive research into the educational qualifications of looked after children although these research projects have not looked exclusively at children in residential care homes. Available evidence suggests that children in residential care have much poorer outcomes than those in a stable foster care placement.
	Figures on the educational achievements of care leavers are collected by the Department of Health. Full data is available on these achievements for 6,555 children who left care in the year ending March 2001. Of these just over a quarter (n=1,715) were in residential placements. Among this group, 22 per cent. achieved one or more GCSEs compared to 41 per cent. of those in other types of placementsDepartment of Health (2001).
	The Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Health and the Local Government Association have commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to undertake research into the educational achievement at Key Stage 4 of children in public care. This research is exploring in greater depth the Key Stage 4 performance of a cohort of pupils who were in public care in summer 2001. This includes children in residential care homes.
	The Department has also just commissioned NFER to conduct research to identify best practice among schools and LEAs in helping these children to fulfil their educational potential. The research will include children in residential care homes although they will not be a specific focus of the research. The Department has also been working closely with the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) on its project on raising the educational attainment of children in care. The SEU will report in early 2003.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he intends to publish a Memorandum of Understanding on the relationship between his Department and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 18 November2002
	We will be preparing the Memorandum of Understanding in the light of the findings of Mike Tomlinson's report on longer term issues concerning examination standards and the role of QCA and the awarding bodies. We expect to receive this report at the end of November.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the Quinquennial Review of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 18 November 2002
	I welcome the Quinquennial Review report on QCA published in the summer. Since then new issues have arisen in the examination system, and a new chair and chief executive have been appointed at QCA. I look forward to receiving the authority's response to the report before the end of the year.

School Violence

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to reduce (a) the number and (b) the seriousness of incidences of violence in schools.

Stephen Twigg: I am very concerned to prevent violence in schools. We have invested in a major programme to improve pupil behaviour through systematic early intervention to reduce the likelihood of serious incidents. #66 million was made available in this year's Budget to the local education authorities with the highest crime levels, to promote good behaviour and tackle poor behaviour. This can be used partly towards personal safety training for staff.
	We have also published a free guidance pack entitled XBullying: don't Suffer in Silence and I would encourage all schools to obtain a copy. It provides detailed advice on preventing bullying and violence between pupils. In addition we have made clear that where necessary head teachers can permanently exclude pupils responsible for violence against members of the school community.
	Earlier this year we published XA legal toolkit for schools, which is free publication summarising the range of legal remedies available to schools when staff face violence or threatening behaviour from parents.

Schools Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grants were made through the school improvement grant in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in 200102.

David Miliband: Standards fund grants are allocated to local education authorities, so figures for Chesham and Amersham are not available. A total of #2.19 million was allocated to Buckinghamshire through the Standards Fund School Improvement Grant in the 200102 financial year, of which:
	#1.31 million was required to be devolved to all maintained schools to raise levels of pupil attainment by funding activities in school development, post-Ofsted and raising attainment plans;
	#350,000 was targeted at schools in special measures and secondary schools facing challenging circumstances to bring about urgent improvements; and
	#446,000 was available to support direct interventions in schools facing challenging circumstances or support the priorities set out in Buckinghamshire's Educational Development Plans.

Schools Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many newly qualified teachers in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire were entitled to induction support in 200102.

David Miliband: All Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) who take-up a post of one term or more in a maintained school, or non-maintained special school, are entitled to induction.
	During the 200102 academic year, a total of 195 NQTs undertook induction in Buckinghamshire, of which 53 were in the constituency of Chesham and Amersham.

Schools Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will ensure that no schools in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire have a cash budget cut in the next financial year.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 6 November 2002, Official Report, column 396W.

Schools Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many representations his Department has received in connection with the funding of (a) schools and (b) school pupils in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire over the last year.

David Miliband: The Department has answered 10 letters in connection with the funding of schools in Buckinghamshire over the last year. Two of these letters were from the hon. Member, and it is not possible to identify which Buckinghamshire constituency the rest came from.
	In addition a number of Buckinghamshire residents responded to the consultation on Local Government Funding reform which closed on 30 September: to identify precisely these letters from among the very large numbers of responses to the consultation would incur disproportionate cost.

Schools Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the secondary schools in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire which conduct cognitive ability tests in year 7.

David Miliband: Cognitive ability tests for year 7 are commercial tests which schools can purchase if they wish. As such, the Department has no records of their usage on an individual school, local education authority, or national basis.

Schools Grant (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent through the standards fund on teaching assistants in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in 200102.

David Miliband: Details of standards fund expenditure by local education authorities for 200102 are not held centrally. Some #197 million was made available to authorities in 200102 through standards fund grant for the recruitment and training of teaching assistants, of which #1.732 million went to Buckinghamshire. 95 per cent. of this grant was required to be devolved to schools. Schools have freedom to move funding between standards fund headings according to their own detailed needs and priorities.
	Information on standards fund allocations and expenditure is not collected at constituency level.

State Secondary Schools

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the different types of state secondary school.

David Miliband: Maintained schools, both primary and secondary, are divided into the following categories:
	1. Community schools
	2. Foundation schools
	3. Voluntary schools comprising:
	a. voluntary aided schools
	b. voluntary controlled schools
	4. Community special schools
	5. Foundation special schools

Teacher Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what protection is given to teachers who have violent and aggressive pupils who pose a threat to their safety.

Stephen Twigg: Violence, threatening behaviour and abuse against school staff or other members of the school community will not be tolerated. Section 64 of the School Standards and Framework Act gives a headteacher the authority to permanently exclude a pupil. Departmental guidance makes it clear that violent and aggressive pupils who pose a risk to teachers' or other pupils' safety can be permanently excluded for a first offence. The Secretary of State would normally regard it as inappropriate to re-instate a pupil who has been permanently excluded in circumstances involving actual or threatened violence against another pupil or member of staff.
	Section 550A of the Education Act 1996 clarifies the powers of teachers, and other staff to use reasonable force to prevent pupils posing a threat to their safety in committing a crime, or causing injury, damage or disruption.
	Further guidance is available in the form of a Departmental Circular 10/98, XSection 550A of the Education Act 1996: The Use of force to Control or Restrain Pupils. An additional guidance document is available for staff working in special schools catering for pupils with severe behavioural difficulties. This joint DfES/Department of Health guidance is entitled XCircular 0242/2002 Guidance on the Use of Restrictive Physical Interventions for Staff Working with Children and Adults who Display Extreme Behaviour in Association with Learning Disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
	Section 550A clarifies the general principle that anyone has the right to defend themselves against an attack provided they do not use a disproportionate degree of force to do so.

Teacher Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers have been assaulted by pupils in each year since 1997.

Stephen Twigg: My Department has not collected this information. However, 135 serious injuries to teachers in Great Britain caused by physical violence were reported to the Health and Safety Executive in both 19992000 and 200001; data for 200102 is not yet available. This figure includes major injuries, and also injuries which resulted in more than three days' absence from work, as a result of assault reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Information is not available on whether the assaults were carried out by pupils, parents or others.

Teacher Protection

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proposals he has to ensure that teachers who protect themselves from violent pupils are not prosecuted; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: Section 550A of the Education Act 1996 clarifies the powers of teachers, and other staff to use reasonable force to prevent pupils committing a crime, or causing injury, damage or disruption. Further guidance is available in the form of a Departmental Circular 10/98, XSection 550A of the Education Act 1996: The Use of force to Control or Restrain Pupils. An additional guidance document is available for staff working in special schools catering for pupils with severe behavioural difficulties. This joint DfES/Department of Health guidance is entitled XCircular 0242/2002 Guidance on the Use of Restrictive Physical Interventions for Staff Working with Children and Adults who Display Extreme Behaviour in Association with Learning Disability and/or Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
	Section 550A clarifies the general principle that anyone has the right to defend themselves against an attack provided they do not use a disproportionate degree of force to do so. Although there can be no guarantee that teachers who defend themselves from violent pupils will not be prosecuted, the Crown Prosecution Service would examine whether the use and degree of force was reasonable in all the circumstances, bearing in mind the provisions in section 550A of the Education Act 1996. In looking at individual cases they are also likely to take account of the school's policy on restraint, whether that had been followed, and the need to prevent injury, damage, or disruption.

Teacher's Pay

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average salary cost is per teacher in each of the shire education authorities in England.

David Miliband: The table shows the average salary and the average salary cost. The metropolitan authorities have been excluded, giving a table consisting of the LEAs that used to be classed as the shire counties.
	
		Teachers'(4) average salary by Local Education Authority(5)
		
			 London Education Authority Average salary March(6) 2001 (#) Average salary Cost(7) (#) 
		
		
			
			 Isles of Scilly 27,000 31,023 
			 Bath  NE Somerset (8) (8) 
			 City of Bristol 26,384 30,315 
			 North Somerset 26,915 30,925 
			 South Gloucestershire 26,478 30,424 
			 Hartlepool 26,749 30,734 
			 Middlesbrough 27,181 31,231 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 26,901 30,910 
			 Stockton on Tees 26,900 30,908 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 27,105 31,144 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 27,187 31,238 
			 North East Lincolnshire 27,175 31,224 
			 North Lincolnshire 27,148 31,194 
			 North Yorkshire (8) (8) 
			 York 26,909 30,919 
			 Bedfordshire 26,971 30,990 
			 Luton 26,929 30,941 
			 Buckinghamshire 26,971 30,990 
			 Milton Keynes 26,678 30,652 
			 Derbyshire 27,351 31,426 
			 Derby 26,572 30,531 
			 Dorset 26,968 30,986 
			 Poole 26,800 30,793 
			 Bournemouth 27,180 31,229 
			 Durham 26,738 30,722 
			 Darlington 25,379 29,160 
			 East Sussex 26,996 31,019 
			 Brighton  Hove 26,963 30,981 
			 Hampshire 26,767 30,755 
			 Portsmouth 26,712 30,692 
			 Southampton 26,276 30,191 
			 Leicestershire 27,006 31,030 
			 Leicester City (8) (8) 
			 Rutland 27,381 31,461 
			 Staffordshire 26,707 30,687 
			 Stoke 26,601 30,565 
			 Wiltshire 25,663 29,487 
			 Swindon 26,012 29,888 
			 Bracknell Forest 27,763 31,900 
			 Royal Borough of Windsor  Maidenhead 27,752 31,888 
			 West Berkshire (8) (8) 
			 Reading (8) (8) 
			 Slough (8) (8) 
			 Wokingham 26,842 30,842 
			 Cambridgeshire (8) (8) 
			 City of Peterborough 26,360 30,288 
			 Cheshire 26,837 30,836 
			 Halton 27,054 31,085 
			 Warrington 26,757 30,744 
			 Devon 27,075 31,109 
			 City of Plymouth 27,237 31,296 
			 Torbay (8) (8) 
			 Essex 27,534 31,637 
			 Southend 27,501 31,599 
			 Thurrock 27,104 31,142 
			 Herefordshire 26,910 30,920 
			 Worcestershire 26,952 30,967 
			 Kent 27,089 31,125 
			 Medway (8) (8) 
			 Lancashire 27,276 31,340 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 26,196 30,099 
			 Blackpool 26,519 30,470 
			 Nottinghamshire 27,497 31,594 
			 City of Nottingham 26,907 30,916 
			 York 26,909 30,919 
			 Bedfordshire 26,971 30,990 
			 Luton 26,929 30,941 
			 Buckinghamshire 26,971 30,990 
			 Milton Keynes 26,678 30,652 
			 Derbyshire 27,351 31,426 
			 Derby 26,572 30,531 
			 Dorset 26,968 30,986 
			 Poole 26,800 30,793 
			 Bournemouth 27,180 31,229 
			 Durham 26,738 30,722 
			 Darlington 25,379 29,160 
			 East Sussex 26,996 31,019 
			 Brighton  Hove 26,963 30,981 
			 Hampshire 26,767 30,755 
			 Portsmouth 26,712 30,692 
			 Southampton 26,276 30,191 
			 Leicestershire 27,006 31,030 
			 Leicester City   
			 Rutland 27,381 31,461 
			 Staffordshire 26,707 30,687 
			 Stoke 26,601 30,565 
			 Wiltshire 25,663 29,487 
			 Swindon 26,012 29,888 
			 Bracknell Forest 27,763 31,900 
			 Royal Borough of Windsor  Maidenhead 27,752 31,888 
			 West Berkshire (8) (8) 
			 Reading (8) (8) 
			 Slough (8) (8) 
			 Wokingham 26,842 30,842 
			 Cambridgeshire (8) (8) 
			 City of Peterborough 26,360 30,288 
			 Cheshire 26,837 30,836 
			 Halton 27,054 31,085 
			 Warrington 26,757 30,744 
			 Devon 27,075 31,109 
			 City of Plymouth 27,237 31,296 
			 Torbay (8) (8) 
			 Essex 27,534 31,637 
			 Southend 27,501 31,599 
			 Thurrock 27,104 31,142 
			 Herefordshire 26,910 30,920 
			 Worcestershire 26,952 30,967 
			 Kent 27,089 31,125 
			 Medway (8) (8) 
			 Lancashire 27,276 31,340 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 26,196 30,099 
			 Blackpool 26,519 30,470 
			 Nottinghamshire 27,497 31,594 
			 City of Nottingham 26,907 30,916 
			 Shropshire 27,413 31,497 
			 Telford and Wrekin 27,217 31,273 
			 Cornwall 27,071 31,105 
			 Cumbria 27,089 31,125 
			 Gloucestershire (8) (8) 
			 Hertfordshire 25,312 29,083 
			 Isle of Wight 26,491 30,438 
			 Lincolnshire 26,924 30,936 
			 Norfolk 27,128 31,170 
			 Northamptonshire 26,644 30,614 
			 Northumberland 26,794 30,786 
			 Oxfordshire 27,077 31,112 
			 Somerset 27,334 31,406 
			 Suffolk 26,548 30,504 
			 Surrey 25,622 29,440 
			 Warwickshire 26,962 30,980 
			 West Sussex 26,811 30,806 
		
	
	(4) Includes full time teachers from the leadership group and classroom teachers.
	(5) Excluding metropolitan LEAs and London boroughs.
	(6) Average salary of full-time teachers in the maintained sector of England. Figures cover all grades and include any allowances paid. Figures exclude sixth form colleges. The salary figures include threshold pay increases. However, they do not include threshold pay increases relating to people who passed the threshold in September 2000 and had not received their payment by March 2001. This money was backdated after March 2001 and therefore the average salary for March 2001 will be understated.
	(7) Average salary cost includes employment costs
	(8) Not available.
	Source:
	DfES database of teacher records.

Teacher's Pay

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of classroom teachers are on the top of the main scale or have progressed through the upper pay spine in each education authority in England.

David Miliband: The following table shows the latest available teacher data.
	
		Percentage(9) of qualified classroom teachers on point 9 of the main pay scale andthe post-threshold scale as at 31 March 2001(10) -- Maintained schools sector in England
		
			  Main scale point 9 Upper pay scale Not known(11) 
		
		
			 City of London 8.3 0.0 33.3 
			 Camden 21.9 29.8 12.3 
			 Greenwich 54.7 10.0 2.7 
			 Hackney 17.9 0.2 20.3 
			 Hammersmith 18.5 31.8 16.9 
			 Islington 32.8 5.1 25.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (11) (11) (11) 
			 Lambeth (11) (11) (11) 
			 Lewisham 22.2 34.1 10.2 
			 Southwark 39.9 2.5 20.4 
			 Tower Hamlets 40.7 4.1 30.9 
			 Wandsworth (11) (11) (11) 
			 Westminster 13.2 2.1 28.9 
			 Barking 19.6 35.8 4.3 
			 Barnet 23.2 36.9 3.4 
			 Bexley 20.1 39.7 2.9 
			 Brent (11) (11) (11) 
			 Bromley 20.3 26.7 18.3 
			 Croydon (11) (11) (11) 
			 Ealing 28.4 30.6 2.7 
			 Enfield 46.0 11.3 8.4 
			 Haringey 20.1 38.4 8.7 
			 Harrow 12.1 45.7 26.5 
			 Havering 15.4 43.4 14.5 
			 Hillingdon 16.7 32.7 11.1 
			 Hounslow 17.4 38.4 2.2 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames (11) (11) (11) 
			 Merton (11) (11) (11) 
			 Newham 22.9 26.1 0.4 
			 Redbridge 15.3 45.2 7.1 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 26.2 17.7 29.7 
			 Sutton (11) (11) (11) 
			 Waltham Forest 33.5 31.4 3.3 
			 Birmingham 15.8 48.9 3.4 
			 Coventry 12.0 53.4 1.2 
			 Dudley 16.6 50.4 2.0 
			 Sandwell 20.4 44.2 0.9 
			 Solihull 20.6 10.8 2.8 
			 Walsall 22.0 15.2 6.4 
			 Wolverhampton 23.1 48.3 2.8 
			 Knowsley 16.6 44.5 3.1 
			 Liverpool 66.1 1.0 4.9 
			 St. Helens 12.6 58.2 1.6 
			 Sefton 12.4 50.5 6.3 
			 Wirral 11.2 57.9 8.5 
			 Bolton 14.9 50.1 6.1 
			 Bury 15.7 59.0 0.5 
			 Manchester 16.5 24.9 24.5 
			 Oldham 16.6 48.1 2.2 
			 Rochdale 14.9 48.7 5.4 
			 Salford 19.0 1.1 12.6 
			 Stockport 15.3 53.1 5.0 
			 Tameside 11.9 53.4 4.2 
			 Trafford 10.5 49.5 13.6 
			 Wigan 12.1 56.3 4.9 
			 Barnsley 18.9 48.0 16.2 
			 Doncaster 17.1 51.8 4.5 
			 Rotherham 15.3 54.3 4.2 
			 Sheffield 29.8 33.6 10.5 
			 Bradford 25.1 47.3 2.4 
			 Calderdale 19.4 43.6 11.0 
			 Kirklees 13.6 56.8 5.6 
			 Leeds 14.1 45.6 15.1 
			 Wakefield 16.0 48.4 1.8 
			 Gateshead 15.8 1.0 50.7 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 10.8 9.4 62.3 
			 North Tyneside 16.1 48.6 5.4 
			 South Tyneside 8.3 4.3 60.9 
			 Sunderland 12.6 53.7 16.5 
			 Isles of Scilly 42.1 0.0 26.3 
			 Bath and north-east Somerset 25.1 35.8 3.8 
			 City of Bristol 24.2 38.4 0.9 
			 North Somerset 19.8 47.3 3.1 
			 South Gloucestershire 19.3 45.0 1.6 
			 Hartlepool 14.5 49.6 6.8 
			 Middlesbrough 12.6 54.2 3.5 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 13.4 53.5 2.2 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 16.6 50.9 11.6 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 15.9 51.8 1.6 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 15.0 55.2 1.6 
			 North-east Lincolnshire 16.2 53.7 1.4 
			 North Lincolnshire 17.6 52.7 2.4 
			 North Yorkshire 27.9 39.0 5.8 
			 York 16.6 51.5 3.2 
			 Bedfordshire 26.1 41.7 2.5 
			 Luton 23.1 39.6 3.1 
			 Buckinghamshire 24.8 35.2 4.9 
			 Milton Keynes 21.1 42.4 1.3 
			 Derbyshire 16.6 49.1 7.0 
			 City of Derby 28.2 10.5 38.2 
			 Dorset 16.4 51.0 1.0 
			 Poole 15.8 48.1 2.9 
			 Bournemouth 15.7 49.4 1.7 
			 Durham 23.0 43.1 1.3 
			 Darlington 31.6 1.0 41.4 
			 East Sussex 15.7 47.6 6.6 
			 Brighton and Hove 12.6 44.5 10.7 
			 Hampshire 16.8 40.1 13.7 
			 Portsmouth 16.7 37.6 18.3 
			 Southampton 16.1 37.3 9.3 
			 Leicestershire 12.4 51.8 5.0 
			 Leicester City 16.6 30.9 28.7 
			 Rutland 24.4 41.1 3.8 
			 Staffordshire 23.7 41.9 2.1 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 14.7 47.8 2.1 
			 Wiltshire 22.0 42.4 2.9 
			 Swindon 16.4 33.8 9.7 
			 Bracknell Forest 24.5 41.0 1.7 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 22.2 41.0 6.1 
			 West Berkshire 22.2 37.4 6.2 
			 Reading 25.5 33.9 4.8 
			 Slough 46.1 9.6 12.2 
			 Wokingham 40.3 0.8 29.7 
			 Cambridgeshire 33.2 1.1 32.8 
			 City of Peterborough 22.5 38.6 5.0 
			 Cheshire 17.8 1.3 49.5 
			 Halton 14.2 52.0 1.1 
			 Warrington 16.5 46.0 2.3 
			 Devon 18.5 49.0 2.8 
			 City of Plymouth 14.2 49.4 1.4 
			 Torbay 30.6 51.0 8.2 
			 Essex 18.9 44.6 3.3 
			 Southend 22.0 42.3 2.1 
			 Thurrock 3.9 18.4 8.5 
			 Herefordshire 19.5 48.4 2.2 
			 Worcestershire 17.0 49.3 6.3 
			 Kent 18.9 44.7 2.9 
			 Medway 26.8 4.0 43.4 
			 Lancashire 17.9 52.9 3.7 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 40.7 0.5 43.8 
			 Blackpool 16.2 47.9 2.6 
			 Nottinghamshire 16.5 51.4 10.8 
			 City of Nottingham 20.0 42.6 5.5 
			 Shropshire 16.0 55.5 1.8 
			 Telford and Wrekin 15.5 53.1 3.0 
			 Cornwall 16.6 2.9 52.7 
			 Cumbria 18.9 49.3 2.5 
			 Gloucestershire 19.8 38.9 6.3 
			 Hertfordshire 47.0 13.9 2.2 
			 Isle of Wight 19.0 45.9 3.4 
			 Lincolnshire 17.0 41.9 11.6 
			 Norfolk 13.1 2.4 48.4 
			 Northamptonshire 20.4 1.8 44.7 
			 Northumberland 44.6 24.5 2.0 
			 Oxfordshire 17.6 45.9 2.3 
			 Somerset 17.4 23.5 35.6 
			 Suffolk 47.0 20.9 2.9 
			 Surrey 49.5 10.0 3.5 
			 Warwickshire 18.9 47.7 0.7 
			 West Sussex 20.5 44.0 3.0 
		
	
	(9) Percentage is based on all classroom teachers, including advanced skills teachers.
	(10) Provisional.
	(11) Not available.
	Note:
	Following changes to the pay system in September 2000, an unusually high number of teachers were shown with a spine point of 'not known'. The majority of these teachers are expected to be on either spine point 9 or the post-threshold scale.

Teacher's Pay

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire were entitled to a golden hello in 200102.

David Miliband: The information is not collected centrally. The information that is available to my Department on the number of Golden Hello claimants in 200102 was given in my answer to the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Mr. Willis) on 6 November 2002, Official Report, column 394W.

Teacher's Pay

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of (a) the number and (b) the percentage of teachers (i) passing the threshold for performance-related pay and (ii) rising up the enhanced pay spine having passed the threshold in Chesham and Amersham and Buckinghamshire; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The data are collected at LEA rather than constituency level. Nearly 2,000 teachers applied for the Performance Threshold in Buckinghamshire in rounds 1 and 2, with a success rate of 97 per cent. Teachers who were placed on point 1 of the Upper Pay Scale in Round 1 were first eligible to progress to point 2 in September 2002. It is too early to compile details of the numbers who have done so at present.

TREASURY

Advertising Campaigns

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on advertising campaigns undertaken since 1997 by (a) the Register of Friendly Societies, (b) the Government Actuary's Department and (c) OGC Buying Solutions; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Neither the Registry of Friendly Societies (since 1997) nor OGC Buying Solutions (since its inception in 2001) have incurred expenditure on advertising campaigns.
	Annual advertising expenditure for the Government Actuary's Department is set out in the table. Most of this expenditure relates to costs associated with recruitment advertising for trainee actuaries.
	
		
			 Year Expenditure (000) 
		
		
			 199798 33 
			 199899 53 
			 19992000 50 
			 200001 39 
			 200102 46 
			 200203 to date 34

Aviation Gasoline

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to tax aviation gasoline.

John Healey: Aviation gasoline (AVGAS) is taxable at a duty rate of 27.34 pence per litre.

Births, Deaths and Marriages

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when birth, marriage and death certificates will begin to be digitised;
	(2)  what plans he has to digitise existing birth, marriage and death certificates.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Dhanda, dated 19 November 2002
	As Registrar General and National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about what plans there are to digitise existing birth, marriage and death certificates and when birth, marriage and death certificates will begin to be digitised. (81780, 81781)
	The Government's proposals for modernising civil registration in England and Wales are contained in the White Paper XCivil Registration: Vital Change published on 22 January 2002. One of the proposals in the White Paper is that both modern and historic records should be computerised.
	It has been announced that provisions contained in the Regulatory Reform Act 2002 will be used to amend the law to allow for the computerisation of these records. In line with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform Act, a consultation document setting out the proposals in more detail is due to be published in summer 2003. If the proposals are accepted it is expected that the new legislation will be in place by the end of 2004. Once the legislation is in place the process to digitise the birth, marriage and death certificates can begin.

Child Tax Credit

Phil Sawford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the percentage of families in the Kettering constituency which will benefit from the Child Tax Credit to be introduced next April.

Dawn Primarolo: Nine out of ten families with children will be eligible for the Child Tax Credit which will be introduced in April 2003.
	Estimates of the number of families with children in the Kettering constituency that will benefit from the Child Tax Credit are not available, however an estimated 380,000 families with children in the East Midlands are expected to benefit from the Child Tax Credit.

Credit Card Fraud

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Home Office regarding methods of addressing credit card fraud; and if his Department is taking steps to reduce the level of crime in this area.

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury works closely with the Home Office, DTI and other Government Departments on a wide range of issues relating to financial crime. Recent government initiatives to reduce the incidence of credit card fraud include the pilot of a dedicated police unit to combat cheque and plastic crime. The banking industry has also committed to introducing chip cards for authentication of credit and debit transactions by 2005, together with a cardholder verification system using a personal identification number (PIN).

European Central Bank

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on, and what assessment his Department has made, concerning independence of the European Central bank.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor has frequent discussions with his EU counterparts on a range of issues. I refer the hon. Member to chapter 18 of Reforming Britain's economic and financial policytowards greater economic stability published by HM Treasury this year. A copy can be found in the library of the House.

Future Builders Fund

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the size, purpose and eligibility parameters of the Future Builders Fund.

Paul Boateng: The size of the Future Builders Fund, #125 million over three years, was announced by the Chancellor in the Spending Review on 15 July 2002. The purpose of the fund is to assist organisations in the voluntary and community sector in their public service work. The fund is being designed in close collaboration with the voluntary and community sector, in accordance with the provisions of the Compact on relations between Government and the sector. Final decisions about eligibility will be announced in spring 2003.

Future Builders Fund

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what role the Future Builders Fund will have in modernising the community and voluntary sector.

Paul Boateng: The Future Builders Fund will provide strategic investment to assist Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to modernise in pursuit of delivering high quality public services. The fund is being designed in close collaboration with the sector, who will be leading in developing proposals outlining the modernisation measures that the fund could resource. Final decisions on eligibility criteria will be announced in spring 2003.

Future Builders Fund

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if (a) sport, (b) art and (c) recreation will be allowable purposes of the Futures Builders Fund.

Paul Boateng: The target service areas for the futurebuilders fund are closely linked to Government's key priorities. The fund will be available to enhance voluntary and community sector service delivery in health and social care, crime and social cohesion, education and learning, and in services for children and young people.

Growth

Michael Howard: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of growth of (a) GDP, (b) household consumption, (c) Government consumption, (d) investment, (e) exports and (f) imports was in the last two quarters.

Ruth Kelly: The Information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Michael Howard on 19 November 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning what the level of growth of (a) GDP, (b) household consumption, (c) Government consumption, (d) investment, (e) exports and (f) imports in the last two quarters was. I am replying in his absence. (90417)
	The following table shows percentage growth rates over the previous quarter for the main expenditure components of GDP in the latest two available quarters.
	
		
			  2002 Q1 2002 Q2 2002 Q3 
		
		
			 (a) GDP 0.1 0.6 (12)0.7 
			 (b) Household Expenditure 0.5 1.4 n/a 
			 (c) Government Consumption 2.9 -2.7 n/a 
			 (d) Gross Fixed Capital Formation (Investment) -1.6 -0.1 n/a 
			 (e) Exports -0.1 3.5 n/a 
			 (f) Imports 1.4 0.6 n/a 
		
	
	(12) Only total GDP has been published so far for 2001Q3.
	Source:
	Quarterly National Accounts National Statistics first release

Income Tax

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were in each income tax bracket in each year since 1992.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to National Statistics table 2.1 on Inland Revenue's website. http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/income tax/it t01 l.htm.

Islamic Mortgages

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to remove taxation barriers to Islamic mortgages; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government want to see consumers benefit from a wide choice and innovation in the financial services market. We are therefore keen to examine any perceived restrictions on product development that are brought to our attention.
	We are now examining this issue in the context of the reforms under way as part of the modernisation of stamp duty as announced in the Budget on 17 April by Gordon Brown. The review of stamp duty is an opportunity to iron out anomalies that exist under the current legislation. Our intention is to introduce legislation for the new stamp duty regime in Finance Bill 2003, and to implement the revised scheme late next year.

Budget Summary Costs

Liam Fox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the cost to his Department was of sending leaflets and posters summarising the last Budget to (a) general practice surgeries and (b) other healthcare institutions;
	(2)  how many general practice surgeries have been sent leaflets summarising the last Budget.

Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury has, for many years, produced and distributed a summary of the Budget. The total cost of producing and distributing all Budget 2002 leaflets was met from within Departmental Expenditure Limits and amounted to approximately #208,000.
	Within the total distribution, around 8,000 GPs' surgeries received summary leaflets. These and other healthcare institutions accounted for around one third of all leaflet recipients.

Life Expectancy

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the local areas where the expectancy at birth of (a) a man and (b) a woman is less than 70 years; and if he will estimate in each case the number of (i) men and (ii) women who live in each area.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested is the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 19 November 2002
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question asking for a list of the local areas where the expectancy at birth of (a) a man and (b) a woman is less than 70 years; and to estimate in each case the number of (i) men and (ii) women who live in each area. I am replying in his absence. (81048)
	The most recent available figures for life expectancy at birth by local authority in England and Wales are for the years 1999 to 2001. These show that Manchester was the only local authority for which male life expectancy at birth was less than 70 years (69.7 years). There were no areas with female life expectancy at birth lower than 70 years.
	The estimated mid-year population of Manchester in 2001, based on the 2001 Census, was:
	(i) 191,778 males
	(ii) 201,130 females.

Local Government Funding

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representatives his Department has received from Eddisbury constituency residents about local government funding in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the arguments in those representations.

Paul Boateng: The information requested is not available. Correspondence from members of the public is not recorded by Parliamentary constituency.

Mortgage Direct

Mark Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the activities of Mortgage Direct.

Ruth Kelly: None. But if he has particular concerns, perhaps my hon. friend could write to me.

Office for National Statistics

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions Ministers in his Department have been consulted by National Statistics about proposals which impinge on Government policy as defined in the response of the Statistics Commission to the draft National Statistics Code of Practice in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Matthew Taylor, dated 19 November 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many occasions Ministers have been consulted by National Statistics about proposals which impinge on Government policy as defined in the response of the Statistics Commission to the draft National Statistics Code of Practice in each of the last five years. (80414)
	My responsibility for consulting Ministers on Xproposals that impinge on government policy is embodied within the XNational Statistics Protocol on Consultation Arrangements between the National Statistician and UK Government Ministers which came into effect on October 11th this year. Since that date I have not had occasion to consult Ministers under this Protocol.
	As the Protocol indicates, a record of ministerial consultations will be kept and reported annually in the National Statistics Annual Report.

Public Finances

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the state of the public finances; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Consistent with the Code for Fiscal Stability, an interim forecast update will be provided in the pre-Budget report to be presented to Parliament on 27 November 2002.

Public Service Agreements

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the report from the National Audit Office on details on the methods used to validate systems in reporting on public service agreements.

Paul Boateng: The methods used to validate systems are a matter for the National Audit Office.

Resource Costs

Peter Lilley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the resource cost of building (a) homes, (b) schools, (c) hospitals and (d) public utilities for an expansion of the population by one million.

Paul Boateng: The cost of additional infrastructure investment needed to support an expansion of the population would depend upon a large number of variables. The Government takes into account all relevant factors in setting spending plans in biennial Spending Reviews.

Split Capital Investment Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority regarding the collapse of the split capital investment trusts; and when the FSA will produce the results of its inquiry.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury is in regular contact with the FSA on a wide range of issues. The FSA issued a policy statement on Split Capital Investment Trusts in May 2002. It will consult on changes to the listing rules in early 2003. It also has on-going investigations into individual cases.

Stability and Growth

Stephen O'Brien: To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his European counterparts regarding the future of the Stability and Growth Pact; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon Member to my answer to him on 5 November 2002, Official Report, column 211W.

Statistics

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions his Department has had with the Office of National Statistics regarding the accuracy of the statistics it provides; and if he is reviewing standards in the office.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the National Statistician and other officials at the Office for National Statistics on a range of statistical issues. Under the Framework for National Statistics, responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of national statistics lies with the National Statistician, who keeps such standards under constant review. The National Statistics Code of Practice, which was officially launched earlier this year, states that the National Statistician will report annually on the quality of official statistics.

Tax Harmonisation (Private Pensions)

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposals by the European Union to harmonise the tax treatment of private pensions.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The Government are not aware of any such proposals.

Treasury Buildings (Air Conditioning)

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the climate change impact will be of the use of HFC in the air conditioning system in the Treasury building in Great George Street.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury building in Horse Guards Road is largely naturally ventilated, with limited use of air conditioning. With proper maintenance and disposal, the use of HFC will not have any impact on climate change.

Treasury IT System

Brian White: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to review the security of the Department's IT system; and how many digital attacks there were on the Department's system in (a) October and (b) 2002.

Ruth Kelly: The Department has in place a BS/ISO 17799 compliance programme, and has recently undergone a CRAMM v.4 risk assessment, allowing us to review the effectiveness of our security controls. Several aspects of our office system have also been subjected to independent 'health-checks' in the past 12 months. The controls covering the departmental system's external connections are reviewed every six months by the national security authorities. There have been no incidents of digital attack in either (a) October, or (b) 2002, on the office system, however there was one incidence of digital attack on an external website that was under construction, discovered in June 2002.

TRANSPORT

Firefighters

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is to protect transport users during industrial action by firefighters.

Alistair Darling: The Health  Safety Executive has worked with operators to assess the risk to rail services, including London Underground, and Xconsiders the risks arising from a withdrawal of fire brigade cover can be adequately controlled by the industry without major effects to services.

Cross Rail

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received regarding the financing of the East London Crossrail project.

David Jamieson: My right hon. Friend and I regularly receive representations on the Crossrail project.

Piccadilly Station, Manchester

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about train congestion at Piccadilly Station in Manchester.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority is currently consulting on a capacity utilisation policy, which seeks to make best use of the network as a whole.
	In relation to Manchester, specifically, the SRA's strategic plan identifies proposals from the Greater Manchester capacity study as a scheme for further development.

Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the advantages of reopening the Lewes-Uckfield railway line.

David Jamieson: This has been considered by the Strategic Rail Authority. Restoration of the Lewes-Uckfield line is not required to meet the Authority's objectives. No provision was made for it in the Authority's objectives. No provision was made for it in the Authority's strategic plan, published in January 2002.

Bus Services

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to encourage joint ticketing and timetabling of bus companies.

David Jamieson: The Government are committed to encouraging joint ticketing schemes between operators that will benefit bus users. The Director General of Fair Trading issued a new guideline in August, setting out what operators need to do to ensure that their ticketing schemes comply with the terms of the block exemption from the Competition Act 1998. The Office of Fair Trading is looking at the competition implications for co-ordinated timetabling of competing services. Officials from my Department are continuing to monitor the situation.

A6 Bypass

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the A6 Romwell/Desborough bypass to be completed.

David Jamieson: The contractual completion date for the A6 Rothwell and Desborough Bypass is August 2003.
	Earlier completion would be a matter for the contractor.

Cycling Helmets

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what he is doing to encourage greater use of cycling helmets.

David Jamieson: In addition to our existing publicity material to promote the wearing of cycles helmets we have supported the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust to develop national guidelines to promote cycle helmet wearing. This has been distributed widely. We are also developing a cycle safety campaign for teenagers for launch in early 2003.

A34

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the re-surfacing of the A34 between Wendlebury and Peartree in Oxfordshire.

David Jamieson: This section of the A34 is a concrete road. It has been identified as meeting the appropriate selection criteria for possible resurfacing with quieter materials, as announced on 17 October 2001. The Highways Agency has carried out surveys on this and other routes opened since 1988 to assess whether actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of their Public Inquiry. The Highways Agency are currently making their assessment. We hope to be able to announce conclusions later this year.

Liverpool-Euston Line

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations his Department has received about the upgrading of the Liverpool-Euston line.

David Jamieson: I have received a number of representations about the Strategic Rail Authority's proposed strategy for the west coast main line project, which includes plans for improvements in services between Liverpool and Euston.

Train Performance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had since 1 January with train operating companies about train performance.

David Jamieson: I, and other departmental Ministers, meet with train operating companies on a regular basis, as part of wider industry meetings and specifically to discuss their work.

Train Performance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had since he took office with train operating companies about train performance.

David Jamieson: I, and other departmental Ministers, meet with train operating companies on a regular basis, as part of wider industry meetings and specifically to discuss their work.

New Airport (Rugby)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of Transport what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on consequences involving flooding if a new airport were to be built on the proposed site near Rugby.

David Jamieson: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provided comments on the draft consultation document for the Midlands. The Environmental Agency has engaged in the consultation process. If the Midlands new site option was taken forward detailed assessment of environmental impacts, including flood risk, would be required as part of the planning process.

Train Operating Companies

Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about poor service from the train operating companies.

David Jamieson: Ministers and officials met with the SRA on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of topics including train performance.

Rail Subsidies

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of public subsidy to Railtrack and other train operators in the period since rail privatisation.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the total level of public subsidy to rail services in the UK in the last financial year.

David Jamieson: For five years after its privatisation in 1996, Railtrack received no public subsidy direct from the Government. However, the company's profitability was contingent on subsidy, because some 85 per cent. of its income came in access charges paid to it by train operating companies (TOCS), most of which did receive subsidy. Since 1 October 2001, Railtrack has received network grant direct from the Government to help fund its maintenance and renewals investment.
	Details of annual levels of public subsidy to the rail industry in Great Britain are set out in Table 5.1 of XNational Rail Trends, copies of which are in the Library. In 200102, total subsidy amounted to #1,826 million. The main elements of that were #731 million paid to TOCs, #306 million paid to passenger transport executives, #499 million paid to Railtrack and #185 million paid to London  Continental Railways.

Timetables and Ticketing

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State what progress he is making on integrating timetables and ticketing of public transport.

David Jamieson: We are making good progress in this area. My Department assisted with the establishment of traveline and continues to provide support for this service. Traveline provides integrated, multi-modal public transport route and timetable information through a single national telephone number.
	Transport Direct will build on the success of traveline. It will provide route, timetable and fare information for all modes of public and private transport and provide for the purchase of tickets. Transport Direct will initially be provided through an internet portal; the first version will be up and running by the end of 2003 as stated in our objectives in the 10-year plan.
	We have also been working with other organisations to encourage integrated ticketing. One of these products is the PlusBus scheme which allows integration of zonal bus tickets on to national rail tickets. Sheffield is among the initial 35 stations where PlusBus will be available.

Rail Services (North-West)

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the quality and coverage of rail services in the North West.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority reports on the quality and coverage of rail services in its annual report, XOn Track and XNational Rail Trends.

M10

Tony McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to upgrade the M10 to provide a full motorway link to the A1(M).

David Jamieson: The M10 motorway falls within the study area of the London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Study. This study is currently under way and is looking at long-term solutions to meet the passenger and freight transport needs within the area, including the existing difficulty of east-west travel. It is expected the study will report to regional planning bodies at the turn of this year. I would not want to prejudge the study recommendations at this stage.

10-year Plan

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had with passengers' interest groups about the 10-year Plan.

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many meetings he has had with passengers' interest groups about the 10-year Plan.

David Jamieson: Ministers in this Department have regular meetings with a wide range of interest groups, many of whom represent passengers.

Traffic Reduction

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans for traffic reduction.

David Jamieson: A core aim of the Government's 10-year Plan for transport is to tackle the adverse effects of traffic, in particular congestion and pollution. There is no specific objective for reducing traffic, although we believe that, by 2010, the plan will have led to lower traffic growth than would otherwise have been the case.

Stagecoach

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the standard of bus services provided by Stagecoach.

David Jamieson: Local authorities have the primary role in assessing whether bus service needs in their area are being met adequately by current provision. I understand there were some problems with Stagecoach services in the east Derbyshire area, but that these have now improved considerably.

Airport Expansion

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning airport expansion in the south-east.

David Jamieson: We have received and continue to receive a huge number of responses and inquiries concerning the airports consultation. Ministers and officials have met a wide range of organisations including planning bodies, environmental groups and the aviation industry. A number of public exhibitions on the options have also been held.

Air Shows

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many accidents there have been at air shows in each of the last 10 years; and how many (a) fatalities and (b) injuries resulted from these;
	(2)  how many public air shows have been held in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these involved (a) vintage aircraft (b) former military planes.

David Jamieson: The following table provides details of civilian air displays performed for the public since 1992. There were no injuries to members of th public over this period. All of the displays listed involved both vintage and ex-military aircraft.
	
		
			 Year Air displays Accidents Fatalities to crew Serious injuries Minor injuries 
		
		
			 1992 462 1 1 0 0 
			 1993 438 0 0 0 0 
			 1994 438 1 0 0 1 
			 1995 370 2 1 0 0 
			 1996 256 4 4 0 0 
			 1997 338 2 0 0 0 
			 1998 311 2 1 0 0 
			 1999 294 1 0 0 0 
			 2000 245 1 1 0 0 
			 2001 165 2 3 0 0 
			 2002 196 0 0 0 1 
			   
			 Total  16 11 0 2

Angina

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the review team of the DVLA will report on the outcome of its inquiry into the confusion caused by the wording of Question 2 on the H1 medical questionnaire about angina; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The agency has completed its review of the wording of the angina question. It has been decided to make a change to the wording of the question and this will be introduced as soon as possible. In the meantime, applicants who declare that they suffer from angina provoked by driving are being contacted to confirm that they have answered the question appropriately before any licensing decision is taken.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone.

David Jamieson: Within the proposed central London charging zone there are:
	(a) 19 car parking spaces available to employees of the Department, and
	(b) 17 car parking spaces available to visitors to the Department.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

David Jamieson: It is general departmental travel planning policy that staff should not use cars to commute to and from work. However, staff on official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated cost is to his Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

David Jamieson: Any additional costs to my Department as a result of the congestion charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.

Tonnage Tax

Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the UK-based shipping companies which have increased the number of UK ratings in their employment since the introduction of the tonnage tax.

David Jamieson: This information is commercially confidential and is exempt from disclosure under Section 13 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Arson (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many incidents of arson there were in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since January 1997.

Christopher Leslie: In 2000, the Fire Service in Buckinghamshire attended 1,263 fires where malicious or deliberate ignition was proved or suspected (these include fires which were recorded by the brigade as 'doubtful'. This compares to 1,138 such fires in 1999, 967 in 1998 and 926 in 1997. Incident data are not available below brigade area level. 2000 is the latest year for which data are available.

Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) central and (b) departmental administrative expenditure went on organising bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless households in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

Barbara Roche: Comprehensive information on local authorities' expenditure in relation to expenditure on bed and breakfast accommodation, including central and departmental allocations of associated administrative and welfare costs, is published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in XHomelessness StatisticsActuals. Copies of the latest report, for 200001, and those for earlier years are available in the House Library.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed central London road user charging zone.

Christopher Leslie: Within the proposed central London charging zone there are:
	(a) 41 car parking spaces available to employees of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and
	(b) 14 car parking spaces available to visitors to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Christopher Leslie: It is general departmental travel planning policy that staff should not use cars to commute to and from work. However, staff on official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed.

Essex and Suffolk Haven Gateway Initiative

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give recognition to the Essex and Suffolk Haven Gateway initiative; and what financial and other support the Government will provide.

Nick Raynsford: As I indicated to the right hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Mr. Gummer) on 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 343W, I recognise that the Haven Gateway Partnership has an important role. The East of England Development Agency has allocated #125,000 to support the partnership this year.

Fire Service

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to the Government has been of (a) maintained and (b) storage of Bedford self-propelled pumps since the Auxiliary Fire Service was disbanded; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The vehicles are held at Marchington and the costs of the site are shown in the following table:
	
		Costs of Marchington since 1991
		
			 Year Rent Storage costs Maintained costs Income(13) Total 
		
		
			 199192(14) 326,693 Included in rent 502,441  829,134 
			 199293 1,476,890 301,045 708,200  2,486,135 
			 199394 1,183,128 237,870 832,944  2,253,942 
			 199495 1,459,751 204,928 685,438  2,350,117 
			 199596 1,191,498 195,845 635,924  2,023,267 
			 199697 1,308,115 188,128 558,411  2,054,654 
			 199798 1,388,300 144,076 512,549  2,044,925 
			 199899 1,410,773 156,788 562,350  2,129,911 
			 19992000 1,460,324 131,272 692,557  2,284,153 
			 200001 1,490,469 178,784 881,139  2,550,392 
			 200102 1,339,244 243,765 1,144,343 -800,000 1,927,352 
		
	
	(13)In July 2001 management of the EFS stockpile reverted to Departmental management and income is now shown separately.
	(14)Part Year

Fire Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) full-time and (b) retained firemen are on the strength of each fire brigade.

Christopher Leslie: The strength of firefighters in each fire authority area in England and Wales at 31 March 2002 is shown in the table:
	
		Strength of wholetime(15)and retained(16) fire authority staff in England and Wales at 31 March 2002(17)
		
			  Wholetime Retained 
		
		
			 Avon 651 159 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton 324 118 
			 Buckinghamshire 304 143 
			 Cambridgeshire 274 304 
			 Cheshire 626 146 
			 Cleveland 610 66 
			 Cornwall 183 407 
			 County Durham and Darlington 412 151 
			 Cumbria 274 372 
			 Derbyshire 482 226 
			 Devon 538 651 
			 Dorset 298 289 
			 East Sussex 423 197 
			 Essex 948 382 
			 Gloucestershire 226 261 
			 Greater Manchester 2,148 26 
			 Hampshire 770 567 
			 Hereford and Worcester 352 289 
			 Hertfordshire 570 208 
			 Humberside 720 270 
			 Isle of Wight 59 148 
			 Isles of Scilly 10 33 
			 Kent 951 467 
			 Lancashire 1,002 268 
			 Leicestershire 476 139 
			 Lincolnshire 192 420 
			 London 5,913 0 
			 Merseyside 1,317 0 
			 Mid and West Wales 499 662 
			 Norfolk 307 430 
			 North Wales 289 473 
			 North Yorkshire 363 321 
			 Northamptonshire 292 231 
			 Northumberland 208 162 
			 Nottinghamshire 576 205 
			 Oxfordshire 239 232 
			 Royal Berkshire 413 136 
			 Shropshire 206 252 
			 Somerset 181 345 
			 South Wales 957 363 
			 South Yorkshire 923 34 
			 Staffordshire 471 308 
			 Suffolk 252 348 
			 Surrey 686 103 
			 Tyne and Wear 1,009 18 
			 Warwickshire 282 144 
			 West Midlands 2,028 7 
			 West Sussex 393 259 
			 West Yorkshire 1,660 160 
			 Wiltshire 221 280 
		
	
	(15) In full-time equivalents
	(16) In 24 hour units of cover
	(17) Provisional
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Fire Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he collects on the relative manpower to risk ratios of different fire brigades; and what guidelines he offers to brigades on determining manpower levels.

Christopher Leslie: HM Fire Service Inspectorate collects information for each fire authority on staffing levels and on hectarage of each category of fire risk. However, it is not possible to make a direct correlation between the two as fire cover is provided on a strategic basis.
	Guidance which fire authorities use when considering staffing levels is contained in the XReport of the Joint Committee on Standards of Fire Cover, circulated under cover of Fire Service Circular 4/1985, a copy of which is in the Libraries of the House. This report recommends national standards for attendance times, the number of fire appliances and crewing levels. Fire authorities use a formula to determine what staffing levels they require to meet these standards, taking account of local circumstances. HM Inspectorate examines these levels as part of its regular inspection of brigades.

Fire Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many emergency call-outs were received by each fire brigade in the last year for which information is available.

Christopher Leslie: The number of emergency call-outs attended by UK local authority fire brigades for the last year for which data are available is recorded in the table.
	
		Incidents attended by brigade area, 2000(18)
		
			   Fires   
			  Total incidents All fires Primary fires(19) Secondary fires Chimney fires False alarms Special services(20) 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 1,134,388 476,347 219,535 241,357 15,455 460,466 197,575 
			 England and Wales 981,573 399,437 192,239 197,253 9,945 396,913 185,223 
			 England 920,968 368,537 179,842 179,753 8,942 377,950 174,481 
			 Englandnon-Met 494,149 196,655 101,497 86,934 8,224 204,765 92,729 
			 Avon 18,410 7,330 4,372 2,837 121 8,070 3,010 
			 Bedfordshire 8,180 3,617 2,070 1,485 62 3,239 1,324 
			 Berkshire 13,742 4,755 2,589 2,054 112 6,796 2,191 
			 Buckinghamshire 10,466 4,616 2,605 1,888 123 4,325 1,525 
			 Cambridgeshire 12,707 4,156 2,374 1,678 104 6,412 2,139 
			 Cheshire 14,521 6,975 3,020 3,778 177 5,374 2,172 
			 Cleveland 16,023 8,256 3,199 5,028 29 5,759 2,008 
			 Cornwall 6,332 2,656 1,405 848 403 2,197 1,479 
			 Cumbria 7,778 3,524 1,724 1,538 262 3,349 905 
			 Derbyshire 14,221 5,038 2,573 2,244 221 6,488 2,695 
			 Devon 17,278 6,089 3,291 2,314 484 7,102 4,087 
			 Dorset 10,219 3,723 1,838 1,646 239 4,547 1,949 
			 Durham 11,434 5,978 2,411 3,317 250 3,916 1,540 
			 East Sussex 14,290 4,845 3,013 1,603 229 5,720 3,725 
			 Essex 25,481 9,405 4,776 4,474 155 10,015 6,061 
			 Gloucestershire 7,300 2,853 1,664 929 260 2,654 1,793 
			 Hampshire 22,920 9,116 4,175 4,602 339 9,266 4,538 
			 Hereford and Worcs 9,174 3,725 1,951 1,514 260 3,469 1,980 
			 Hertfordshire 13,581 5,296 3,081 2,127 88 6,234 2,051 
			 Humberside 16,895 8,369 3,360 4,819 190 5,658 2,868 
			 Isle of Wight 1,966 589 372 172 45 753 624 
			 Kent 25,817 10,239 5,581 4,326 332 10,519 5,059 
			 Lancashire 26,648 12,251 5,633 6,451 167 10,728 3,669 
			 Leicestershire 13,806 5,386 2,900 2,346 140 5,771 2,649 
			 Lincolnshire 7,252 3,134 1,824 1,105 205 2,334 1,784 
			 Norfolk 9,403 3,889 2,267 1,312 310 4,043 1,471 
			 North Yorkshire 10,784 3,575 2,082 1,153 340 4,131 3,078 
			 Northamptonshire 10,047 4,681 2,586 1,943 152 3,833 1,533 
			 Northumberland 5,174 2,655 1,109 1,339 207 1,876 643 
			 Nottinghamshire 17,589 8,067 4,272 3,620 175 6,714 2,808 
			 Oxfordshire 10,264 3,247 2,015 999 233 5,585 1,432 
			 Shropshire 6,815 2,960 1,498 1,209 253 2,294 1,561 
			 Somerset 7,754 2,740 1,614 745 381 3,306 1,708 
			 Staffordshire 14,438 6,745 3,268 3,233 244 5,378 2,315 
			 Suffolk 7,994 2,813 1,630 979 204 3,590 1,591 
			 Surrey 15,569 4,099 2,348 1,623 128 8,282 3,188 
			 Warwickshire 7,943 3,046 1,498 1,443 105 3,566 1,331 
			 West Sussex 15,214 3,689 2,033 1,428 228 7,260 4,265 
			 Wiltshire 8,688 2,516 1,470 780 266 4,203 1,969 
			 Isles of Scilly 32 12 6 5 1 9 11 
			 England(Met 426,819 171,882 78,345 92,819 718 173,185 81,752 
			 Greater Manchester 59,675 29,201 14,953 14,189 59 24,217 6,257 
			 Merseyside 37,808 21,278 8,406 12,810 62 12,625 3,905 
			 South Yorkshire 24,293 12,135 5,116 6,844 175 9,168 2,990 
			 Tyne and Wear 26,660 14,858 5,996 8,821 41 9,469 2,333 
			 West Midlands 59,807 25,397 12,462 12,855 80 24,766 9,644 
			 West Yorkshire 42,128 20,791 9,668 10,908 215 17,368 3,969 
			 Greater London 176,448 48,222 21,744 26,392 86 75,572 52,654 
			 Wales 60,605 30,900 12,397 17,500 1,003 18,963 10,742 
			 North Wales 13,706 5,535 2,429 2,642 464 5,153 3,018 
			 Mid and West Wales 16,991 8,623 3,931 4,309 383 4,917 3,451 
			 South Wales 29,908 16,742 6,037 10,549 156 8,893 4,273 
			 Northern Ireland 34,488 21,156 7,093 11,672 2,391 11,774 1,558 
			 Scotland(21) 118,327 55,754 20,203 32,432 3,119 51,779 10,794 
			 Strathclyde 60,265 29,641 10,235 18,920 486 25,881 4,743 
			 Highland and Islands 4,980 2,319 644 657 1,018 2,127 534 
			 Grampian 8,169 3,737 1,669 1,537 531 3,283 1,149 
			 Tayside 9,169 4,522 1,645 2,644 233 3,828 819 
			 Lothian and Borders 21,413 9,154 3,638 5,183 333 10,193 2,066 
			 Fife 6,923 3,095 1,119 1,829 147 3,177 651 
			 Central 5,204 2,294 834 1,374 86 2,552 358 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 2,204 992 419 288 285 738 474 
		
	
	(18) 2000 fire incident figures are provisional
	(19) Including additional Xlate call and heat and smoke damage incidents
	(20) Special service incidents relate to financial year 200001
	(21) Scottish special service data supplied by the Scottish Executive

Fire Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of (a) the population and (b) the land area of each fire brigade are covered by (i) retained and (ii) full-time firemen.

Christopher Leslie: Statutory responsibility for the provision of fire services rests locally with the fire authority. Information on the land area or population served by individual fire stations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Fire stations may be staffed by whole-time, retained firefighters or combination of the two. Fire cover is provided on a strategic basis because it is recognised that the appliances at any individual fire station are not the only resources available to that locality.

Firefighters (Buckinghamshire)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) full-time and (b) full-time equivalent firefighters there were in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: Statutory responsibility for the provision of fire services rests locally with the fire authority, in this case the Buckinghamsire, and Milton Keynes Fire Authority. The readily available information is as follows.
	
		Amersham and Chestham
		
			  Firefighter posts Firefighter posts  
			  Wholetime Retained Wholetime Retained 
		
		
			 31 December 1997 17 12 0 12 
			 31 March 1999 14 12 3 12 
			 31 March 2000 14 12 0 12 
			 31 March 2001 14 12 0 12 
			 31 March 2002 14 12 0 12 
		
	
	
		Buckinghamshire -- Firefighter strength
		
			  Wholetime(22) Retained(23) 
		
		
			 31 December 1997 300 156 
			 31 March 1999 305 152 
			 31 March 2000 307 151 
			 31 March 2001 292 152 
			 31 March 2002 304 143 
		
	
	(22) In full-time equivalents
	(23) In units of 24 hour cover

Local Authority Performance Assessments

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether democratically elected members of an authority have a right to see the inspection team's report following a comprehensive performance assessment of a local authority while awaiting the identification of the final assessment category.

Nick Raynsford: The Audit Commission had been charged with developing and implementing the methodology for the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, including a Corporate Assessment. Corporate Assessment tests how the council has established its aims and priorities and how they are succeeding in delivering them.
	Once completed, the Corporate Assessment report will be a public document. Prior to publication it is shared with each council, as a confidential draft, in order to rectify any inaccuracies, to permit the authority to provide further evidence or to seek clarification on inspection findings before the report is finalised. All Corporate Assessment reports are then subject to an Audit Commission quality assurance process before they are completed and published. In respecting the confidential nature of the draft, it is a matter for each authority how widely it is shared with officers and elected members.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what level of revenue support grant has been received by the Isle of Wight Council in each of the last five years at 2002 prices (a) in total and (b) per head of population; and what the anticipated figures would be for 200304 under each of his consultative options for reform of the local government finance formula using Treasury inflation assumptions.

Nick Raynsford: The tables show the amounts of Revenue Support Grant and redistributed national non-domestic rates, and the total of these two items, for the Isle of Wight in # millions and in 3s per head for the period 199899 to 200203.
	The figures are in real terms, based on the GDP deflator, with 200203 as the base year. The figures are based on the amount of grant actually received by the Isle of Wight for the year concerned, and so do not take into account any changes in function or responsibility.
	Figures for 200304 under each of the consultative options could only be provided at disproportionate cost. In all events this would not give an accurate projection for 20034 as the consultative options were illustrated by reference to 20023 and did not incorporate data changes for 20034 which were not then
	Available.
	
		Table 1: Grant in real terms in # million
		
			  RSG NNDR RSF plus NNDR 
		
		
			 199899 49.110 32.414 81.253 
			 19992000 48.669 34.399 83.068 
			 200001 48.753 38.293 87.046 
			 200102 53.653 36.970 90.623 
			 200203 48.409 39.822 88.231 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Grant per head in real terms in #
		
			  RSG NNDR RSG plus NNDR 
		
		
			 199899 391 258 650 
			 19992000 387 273 660 
			 200001 384 302 685 
			 200102 418 288 707 
			 200203 374 308 682

Local Government Finance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire.

Nick Raynsford: We will announce the new system for distributing formula grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be around the start of December. Once the Government have allocated its grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceiling scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Local Government Finance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what impact changes in the local government formula grant will have on public services delivered by (a) Chiltern District Council and (b) Buckinghamshire County Council.

Nick Raynsford: We will announce the new system for distributing formula grant, including detailed grant allocations for individual authorities, at the time of the provisional local government finance settlement which we expect to be around the start of December. Once the Government has allocated its grant, decisions about budgets and services are primarily for local councils to make. However, we have already guaranteed that we will use grant Xfloors to ensure that no authority will face a cut in grant next year on a like for like basis, and we hope to do better than that when we announce the actual floors and ceilings scheme as part of the provisional settlement.

Local Government Finance

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of spending by (a) Buckinghamshire county council and (b) Chiltern district council (i) has been financed by council tax payers in each year since 1 January 1996 and (ii) is to be financed by council tax payers in 200203.

Nick Raynsford: The proportions of revenue expenditure financed from the council tax for Buckinghamshire county council and Chiltern district council in the financial years 199596 to 200203 are set out in the following table:
	
		Income from council tax as a percentage of spending
		
			 Year Buckinghamshire county council(24) Chiltern district council 
		
		
			 199596 27 51 
			 199697 28 57 
			 199798 31 67 
			 199899 34 65 
			 19992000 34 60 
			 200101 35 62 
			 200102(25) 34 61 
			 200203(25) 36 62 
		
	
	(24) For 199798 onwards this excludes the area of Milton Keynes borough council, which became unitary from 1 April 1997.
	(25) 200102 and 200203 are budgeted figures; 199596 to 200101 are outturn figures.
	Source:
	199596 to 200001 Revenue Summary Returns.
	200102 and 200203 Budget Estimate Returns.

Parish Clerks

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many parish clerks are employed in England.

Christopher Leslie: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Parish Clerks

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has issued on the training of parish clerks.

Christopher Leslie: We have not issued any guidance on the training of parish clerks, although the National Training Strategy has introduced a training package for parish clerks, prepared by the Countryside Agency and NALC. The Government strongly support this initiative and are contributing #2 million over three years.

Parish Clerks

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the remuneration of parish clerks.

Christopher Leslie: We have not made any assessment of the remuneration of parish clerks.

Parish Clerks

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of change in nature of the work of parish clerks.

Christopher Leslie: We recognise the implications that the new measures to strengthen the parish tier of local government have for parish clerks. The new Training Strategy which has been prepared by the Countryside Agency and NALC, to which the Government is contributing #2 million over three years, reflects the current role of clerks.

Parish Clerks

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the parish clerk workforce in terms of (a) age, (b) gender and (c) ethnicity.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made any assessment of the parish clerk workforce recently. However, research undertaken in 1991 for the then Department of Environment sampled 1,000 parish councils in England. The research found that 59 per cent. of all clerks were female and employed part-time. However, this proportion decreases with the increase in the size of the council. The research found that in councils for parishes with a population of over 10,000 only 25 per cent. were female.

Parish Clerks

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the workload of parish clerks.

Christopher Leslie: We have not made any assessment of the current workload of parish clerks generally, although in our consultation document XQuality Town and Parish Councils, published on 7 November 2001, we proposed a basis for assessing their competence.

Parking Fines

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the income was for each local authority in London in each of the last five years from (a) parking meters, (b) car park charges, and (c) parking enforcement notices.

Christopher Leslie: It is not possible to separately identify the income from parking meters, car park charges and parking enforcement notices. The total income reported by local authorities in the years 199697 to 200001 is presented in the table.
	
		Income from parking for the London authorities -- #000
		
			  199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 City of London 10,948 11,082 12,702 12,815 12,213 
			  
			 Inner London boroughs  
			  
			 Camden 16,975 18,647 21,286 24,535 25,742 
			 Greenwich 3,029 4,706 5,570 4,797 5,066 
			 Hackney 3,643 4,790 3,473 4,617 4,946 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,313 11,043 13,194 14,633 21,815 
			 Islington 4,170 4,584 5,793 5,812 7,234 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 22,756 24,820 25,946 30,434 30,836 
			 Lambeth 2,676 2,983 5,476 10,663 9,817 
			 Lewisham 1,145 1,149 1,338 1,616 2,563 
			 Southwark 2,801 3,815 4,749 6,209 6,303 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,708 6,455 7,469 11,847 9,825 
			 Wandsworth 4,900 5,452 6,160 8,731 11,938 
			 Westminster 91,572 101,919 76,794 88,020 89,397 
			 Total inner London boroughs 166,688 190,363 177,248 211,914 225,482 
			  
			 Outer London boroughs  
			  
			 Barking and Degenham 863 932 935 1,010 990 
			 Barnet 2,528 2,421 3,060 3,893 3,815 
			 Bexley 2,293 2,541 2,618 2,721 2,874 
			 Brent 2,515 3,658 4,052 5,269 5,859 
			 Bromley 4,554 5,026 5,404 5,945 6,074 
			 Croydon 9,053 9,883 10,148 13,297 14,115 
			 Ealing 2,552 3,042 3,120 4,268 5,619 
			 Enfield 3,468 3,606 3,777 3,682 4,666 
			 Haringey 2,039 2,679 4,129 4,228 5,438 
			 Harrow 2,481 3,104 3,408 4,363 5,051 
			 Havering 3,207 3,535 3,478 3,729 3,687 
			 Hillingdon 2,530 2,676 3,192 3,504 4,442 
			 Hounslow 2,621 2,879 3,339 3,407 4,676 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,450 4,398 4,775 5,295 6,193 
			 Merton 1,900 2,258 2,365 2,714 3,104 
			 Newham 1,934 2,168 2,542 3,093 3,930 
			 Redbridge 2,147 1,852 2,312 2,857 3,346 
			 Richmond upon Thames 5,039 5,963 5,561 6,330 7,076 
			 Sutton 2,877 3,102 3,484 3,746 3,865 
			 Waltham Forest 2,573 2,908 3,173 3,677 3,975 
			 Total outer London boroughs 61,624 68,631 74,872 87,028 98,795 
			 Total London 239,260 270,076 264,822 311,757 336,490 
		
	
	Source:
	Revenue Summary Returns

Public Service Agreements (Chesham and Amersham)

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many public service agreements have been entered into with local authorities covering the Chesham and Amersham constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The Government have entered into one local public service agreement covering the Chesham and Amersham constituency. This agreement is with Buckinghamshire county council, with the four district councils in Buckinghamshire being joint signatories to the agreement. The text of this agreement can be found at http://www.local-regions.odpm.gov.uk/lpsa/2001/full.htm

CABINET OFFICE

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone.

Douglas Alexander: There are 46 allocated parking spaces available for use by employees of the Cabinet Office.
	In addition there are currently 18 parking spaces which are for the use of visitors to the Department, for the parking of ministerial cars and for operational purposes.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the estimated cost is to his Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Douglas Alexander: Any additional costs to my Department as a result of the congestion charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Douglas Alexander: All civil servants are responsible for payment of their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a Central London Road User charge will not affect this basic condition of service.

PRIME MINISTER

Lord Chancellor (Pension Schemes)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Lord Chancellor is entitled to be a member of (a) the Judicial Pensions Scheme and (b) the Ministerial Pensions Scheme; and if he will make a statement as to how the two schemes inter-relate in respect of the Lord Chancellor.

Tony Blair: The Judicial Pensions Act 1981 provides lump sum benefits for the Lord Chancellor on leaving office or in the event of the Lord Chancellor's death in service, and also provides for pensions for his dependants.
	There is no Ministerial Pension Scheme. The Parliamentary Pension Scheme provides pension benefits to Members of Parliament, Ministers and Officeholders. The Lord Chancellor is not entitled to membership of this scheme.
	Provision for the Lord Chancellor's pension is made in the Lord Chancellor's Pension Act 1832 and the Parliamentary and Other Pensions Act 1972 as amended.

Official Definitions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government has a uniform definition of rural and urban.

Tony Blair: There is no unique approach to defining urban or rural areas. Indeed many areas exhibit characteristics of both.
	However, definitions are needed to target programmes for urban and rural areas and for statistical purposes. In these cases, urban is defined as 'built-up settlements with a minimum population of 1,000 and a minimum land area of 20 hectares'. And the Countryside Agency has an existing methodology for defining rural areas; work is currently under way across Departments to refine that methodology.

SCOTLAND

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of her Department and (b) visitors to her Department within the proposed entral London road user charging zone.

Helen Liddell: My department has no employee or visitors car parking spaces within the proposed central London charging zone. Scotland Office ministerial drivers have access to Whitehall parking permits as do any employees requiring these for essential business use.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the policy is of her Department in relation to the reimbursement of central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Helen Liddell: All civil servants are responsible for payment of their own everyday home to office travel costs. The introduction of a central London road user charge will not affect this basic condition of service.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated cost is to her Department of the central London road user charging scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Helen Liddell: My Department has made no estimate of any additional costs resulting from the congestion charging scheme in central London since any that do arise will, necessarily, be very limited.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of her Department and (b) visitors to her Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department has (a) a total of 48 bays available to its employees, and (b) one space permanently allocated to visitors within the Central London Road User Charging Zone.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the estimated cost is to her Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department estimates, based on average usage of departmental pool cars, that the figures for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2002 will be #620 and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 would be #4,800.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what the policy is of her Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department is currently formulating a policy on congestion charging.

TREASURY

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of central London road user charges incurred by its employees;
	(2)  what the estimated cost is to his Department of the central London road user charging scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004;
	(3)  how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed central London road user charging zone.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has 46 car parking spaces, which are available for employees and visitors according to need. It reimburses staff for reasonable expenses legitimately incurred on official business. The scheme is not expected to make any detectable difference to the total amount paid. No numerical estimate of the cost has been made.

Immigration

Peter Lilley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what impact he estimates the inflow of immigrants to this country will have on the levels of pay of (a) unskilled and (b) semi-skilled workers.

Ruth Kelly: To the extent that immigration were to add proportionately less to some skill groups than others, it would tend to raise their relative wage rates. If immigration did not change the skill composition of the labour force or productivity, it should have no lasting effect on either absolute or relative rates of pay.
	Nevertheless research in the UK suggests that, if anything, migrants have had a positive impact on the wage levels of native workers among both groups. Migrants have contributed to economic growth, productivity and the public finances. Work-related immigration schemes in the UK are targeted to meet the needs of sectors where there are skills and labour shortages (for example the seasonal agricultural workers scheme), and are developed in conjunction with both sides of industry.

WALES

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone.

Peter Hain: Within the proposed central London charging zone my Department has a total of six parking spaces which are available to employees, visitors and official cars.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Peter Hain: All civil servants are responsible for payment of their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a Central London Road User charge will not affect this basic condition of service. However, staff on official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed for any charge they incur.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the estimated cost is to his Department of the Central London Road User Charging Scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Peter Hain: Any additional costs to my Department as a result of the congestion charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.

HEALTH

Abortion

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of NHS funded abortions occurred within (a) 9 weeks, (b) 912 weeks and (c) 1319 weeks gestation of pregnancy in each of the last five years, broken down by authority of residence in England and Wales;
	(2)  what the (a) mean and (b) modal length of time between referral and an abortion was when a patient had to wait; in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by health authority boundaries in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
	Information on how long a patient had to wait between referral and an abortion is not collected centrally. As part of the sexual health and HIV strategy implementation action plan, the Department will be developing an abortion waiting time performance indicator and undertaking an audit of abortion waiting times and commissioning policies. From 2003, primary care trusts (PCTs) will work towards the national standard that women who meet the legal requirements should have access to an abortion within three weeks of the first appointment with referring doctor. #1 million is being allocated to a number of PCTs this financial year to help improve access to abortion services and reduce waiting times.

Adoption (Homosexual Couples)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the adoption of children by homosexual couples; what assessment he has made of research into whether it provides a stable foundation for the raising of children; and what assessment he has made of possible gender confusion in children that are adopted by homosexual couples.

Jacqui Smith: The Adoption and Children Act 2002, which amends the Adoption Act 1976, provides that those who will be eligible to apply to adopt in the future are married couples, single people and two people (whether of different sexes or the same sex) living as partners in an enduring family relationship.
	Under the existing Adoption Act 1976, single people adopt, regardless of sexual orientation, but only married couples may adopt jointly. It is open for one umarried partner to adopt a child and for the other to obtain parental responsibility by applying for a residence order in respect of the child. This denies the child the permanence and security of having two parents.
	Enabling unmarried couples to apply to adopt jointly will widen the pool of potential adoptive parents, thereby ensuring that more vulnerable children will have the chance of the family life that adoption can bring. It will also allow the child to have a legal relationship with both parents, rather than just one, and therefore will increase the stability and security for the child.
	In order to be approved as adoptive parents, any couple is required to undergo a stringent assessment process carried out by an adoption agency over a period of several months. The assessment process will include rigorous scrutiny of the stability of the relationship and their suitability to bring up children in that they can provide a loving family environment for a child. Ultimately the court will decide whether or not to make the adoption order.
	Recognising the strongly held views for and against same-sex parenting, the Government has sought to draw conclusions from the various studies, which have been conducted and published in academic journals.
	No reliable research to date has identified significant differences between lesbian and gay parents and their heterosexual counterparts, or between the children raised by those groups.
	A number of studies have examined gender-role behaviour among children of lesbian mothers. The studies did not find any differences between children of lesbian and heterosexual mothers in toy preferences, activities, interests or occupational choices relevant to sex-role conventions. Details of the studies cited may be found in the letter from my noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath) to Lord Brennan of 20 June 2002, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.
	The Government's objective through changing the law to allow unmarried couples to adopt jointly is to increase the number of children who have the opportunity, through adoption, to grow up as part of a loving, stable and permanent family.

Child Performances

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances employers are required to obtain a licence to allow children to take part in a performance; and what the maximum length of time is that a child is allowed to take part in (a) rehearsals and (b) performances (i) per day and (ii) per year, where a licence is required for the child's performance; and what is the minimum number of hours education a child must undergo on school days when taking part in a performance.

Jacqui Smith: The circumstances governing the issue of child performance licences are contained in the Children (Performances) Regulations 1968. In summary, an employer must obtain a licence for every performance in which a child is to take part unless the child will take part in no more than three performances and neither the child nor anyone on their behalf will receive payment in respect of the performance. The times allowed for a child to take part in a rehearsal or performance varies according to whether the performance is to be broadcast or recorded or not. If the performance is not to be broadcast or recorded, a child may not take part in a rehearsal or performance on more than six days in any period of seven days, nor may she or he take part in any rehearsal or performance if the entire production, including intervals, exceeds three and a half hours or of his or her part or appearances exceeds two and a half hours. She or he may not take part in more than one performance on any school day unless granted absence from school.
	For children taking part in broadcast or recorded performances the chart identifies the time limits.
	There is no limit to the number of days in a year on which a child may perform. This is decided on an individual basis for each child with account being taken of their health, welfare, general wellbeing and education.
	
		Daily working allowances and requirements of children taking part in broadcast and recorded performances
		
			  Age of child Maximum number of hours permitted at the place of performance or rehearsal Earliest and latest permitted times at that place Maximum period of continuous performance or rehearsal Maximum number of hours performance or rehearsal  Minimal intervals for meals and rest Minimum number of hours education on school days if being privately taught(26) 
		
		
			 9 or over 9.5 7.00 am to 7.00 pm 1 hour 4 hours If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than four consecutive hours two, one of which must be at least an hour and the other at least 15 minutes. If at present at place of performance or rehearsal for more than eight consecutive hours three, two of which must each be at least an hour and the others at least 15 minutes 3 
			 5 but under 9 7.5 9.00 am to 4.30 pm 45 minutes 3 hours If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than three and a half consecutive hours two, one of which must be at least one hour and the other at least 15 minutes. If present at the place of performance or rehearsal for more than eight consecutive hours three, two of which must each be at least an hour and the others at least 15 minutes 3 
			 Under 5 5 9.30 am to 4.30 pm 30 minutes 2 hours Any time during which the child is not taking part in a performance or rehearsal must be used for meals, rest, and recreation  
		
	
	(26)The time required for tuition, three hours per normal school day, may be aggregated over a four week period, or if engaged for less than four weeks for that period, provided that a child receives at least six hours tuition per week and no more than five hours in any one day

Child Performances

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) statutory regulations and (b) guidelines issued to local authorities cover the granting of licences to employers for child performances; and what the (i) recommended, (ii) average and (iii) range of response times are for local authorities in the granting of licences to employers for child performances were in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The Children (Performances) Regulations 1968, as amended govern the issue of child performance licences. Licences must be issued within 21 days of receipt of a complete application. Figures are not collected centrally on child employment licensing.

Child Performances

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licences were (a) granted to and (b) applied for by employers for child performances in each of the past three years.

Jacqui Smith: The figures requested are not collected centrally.

Child Performances

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has carried out into the current arrangements for licensing child performances; and if he will place copies in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: The Government have not conducted research into the arrangements for child performance licensing.

Continuing Care

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people are receiving NHS-funded continuing care in (a) NHS hospitals and (b) nursing homes in each strategic health authority area in the UK;
	(2)  how many continuing care assessments have been made each year since 1996 in the area of the former North Staffordshire health authority; and of those, how many have been deemed (a) eligible and (b) not eligible to receive NHS-funded continuing care.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally. Data for newly eligible patients in North Staffordshire for the period 199697 to 200001 are in the table. Data for patients who are not eligible have never been collected. No more recent data exists. From March 2003, the Department will be collecting information on the total number of people receiving continuing national health service health care and the number of people newly meeting eligibility criteria for continuing NHS health care.
	
		Number of people newly meeting 'eligibility' criteria for continuing in-patient care, North Staffordshire health authority
		
			  Physically ill Mentally ill Others Total 
		
		
			 200001 90 45 51 186 
			 19992000 87 42 48 177 
			 199899 90 42 49 181 
			 199798 (27) (27) (27) 215 
			 199697 (27) (27) (27) 289 
		
	
	(27) Data not subdivided

Delayed Discharges

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the Quarter 2 200203 emergency readmission and delayed discharge figures for over 75s in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: . The Quarter 2, September 2002, figures on delayed discharge and emergency readmission should be available in December and when it is available I will put a copy in the Library.

Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will publish the National Service Framework delivery strategy for diabetes before the end of this year;
	(2)  if he will ensure that the diabetes National Service Framework makes it clear to local health bodies that diabetes is a funding priority; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: We shall be publishing the delivery strategy for the diabetes national service framework in the next few weeks. We have included two national targets for diabetes, for retinal screening and for practice-based registers and structured care, in 'Improvement, Expansion and Reform', which sets the priorities for the National Health Service for the next three years. We shall make announcements on funding for the NHS shortly.

European Food Safety Authority

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will be making nominations for the membership of the European Food Safety Authority's Scientific Panels; if he has made nominations for the panel on genetically modified organisms; whom he has nominated; which criteria were used to make nominations; and whether stakeholders and the public will be asked to make nominations.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The Government will not be making nominations. All members of the European food safety authority's scientific panels will be independent scientific experts selected following an open call for expressions of interest and appointed by the authority's management board.

Foster Carers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many foster families were recruited in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many foster carers were (a) single and (b) couples in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many foster parents have been recruited in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: There is no national data collection of the number of foster parents recruited by local authorities and independent foster agencies.

Hepatitis C

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the national strategy on hepatitis C will be implemented; what funding will be available; and what timetables are proposed.

Hazel Blears: The hepatitis C Strategy for England will form the basis of an action plan as proposed in the Chief Medical Officer's infectious diseases strategy, Getting Ahead of the Curve. This action plan will be drawn up by the end of 2002, following the consultation exercise. It will serve as a clear framework setting out actions that need to be taken by Government, the national health service and others to secure improvements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C.
	A number of funding streams will support the strategy. A major component has been included in health authority allocations to support the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommended combination drug treatments for moderate/severe liver disease caused by hepatitis C. Other funding streams are:
	Central funding of #1.3 million over two years, 200203 and 200304, has been allocated for raising professional and public awareness and improving surveillance. Funding for future years has yet to be decided.
	Funding for the voluntary sector specifically for hepatitis C projects and for projects which are directed at prevention activities for injecting drug users in general has been increased and currently stands at around #0.2 million for 200203.
	HIV prevention funding includes health promotion for injecting drug users. From 200203, HIV prevention is funded through main national health service allocations and #55 million has been included for the coming year. From the returns collected under the AIDS (Control) Act, approximately 14 per cent. in 19992000 of the separate allocation before mainstreaming was spent on prevention work on injecting drug use.
	The Department also has a central budget for drug misuse for the National Treatment Agency of #175.7 million for 200203.

MMR Vaccinations

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate supplies of single component MMR vaccinations for those parents (a) whose children have already started a course of such vaccinations and (b) who wish their children to start a course of such vaccinations.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not purchase single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines for children. This is because the triple MMR vaccine provides the best protection against these three potentially fatal diseases.
	Children who have started a course of single measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations can complete it using the triple MMR vaccine. Children wishing to start a course of single vaccines are recommended to use the triple vaccine.

Royal United Hospital, Bath

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the length of ambulance waits outside casualty at the Royal United Hospital, Bath;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the length of trolley waits at the Royal United Hospital, Bath;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of current and foreseeable wait time data at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Hazel Blears: Information on ambulance waits outside accident and emergency departments is not collected centrally. However, I have been advised by Wiltshire Ambulance Service national health service trust that waiting times at the Royal United Hospital, Bath have substantially improved in the past two months and average waits are not disrupting ambulance services.
	I am also advised by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority that Royal United Hospital Bath NHS trust has had no trolley waits over 12 hours since July 2002 and that the trust is meeting waiting time targets for both in-patients and out-patients. The trust is continuing to work to minimise trolley waits and to improve waiting times. It is aiming to hit both the 12-month target for in-patients and also the 21-week target for out-patients by the end of March 2003.

Royal United Hospital, Bath

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the financial position of (a) Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, (b) West Wiltshire NHS Primary Care Trust and (c) Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The Royal United Hospital Bath is reporting a forecast income and expenditure deficit of #25.2 million for the financial year 200203. This deficit is acknowledged to be part of a wider Bath health community financial deficit of #30.7 million and is not wholly attributable to any individual organisation. Bath health community is working in conjunction with the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire strategic health authority to develop plans leading to financial balance.
	Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust is predicting a year-end deficit of #1.4 million. West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust also has a deficit of #1.2 million. The trusts continue to work with partner agencies to develop solutions to address these problems. Progress has been made in a number of localities and a consultation on service development is under way in others.

Waiting Lists (Mental Health)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what form he collects statistics on the number of children waiting to be referred to the CAHMS; and what the figures are for the last two years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The only information currently available on the waiting time for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is by the consultant specialty of child and adolescent psychiatry. The latest information on waiting times for inpatient and outpatient appointments is shown in the tables.
	We recognise that in some places waiting times CAMHS are unacceptably long. The development of CAMHS is an important part of the work we are taking forward in the children's national service framework. In 20023 we are investing an additional 40 million in services provided by the national health service and local authorities which will help in reducing waiting.
	On the 16 October my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced that CAMHS would receive an additional investment of 140 million over the next three years through increased grants to local authorities. This will build capacity, improve access and, together with new NHS investment, help deliver for the first time a comprehensive CAMHS service for every area.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone.

Maria Eagle: Within the proposed central London charging zone there are 112 parking spaces available to employees of the Department. There are no parking spaces designated for visitors to the Department.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the policy is of his Department in relation to the reimbursement of Central London road user charges incurred by its employees.

Maria Eagle: All civil servants are responsible for their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a central London road users' charge will not affect this basic condition of service. However, staff on official business who are required to drive their own vehicles, or hire vehicles, within the charging zone will be reimbursed.

Congestion Charging

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is to his Department of the central London road user charging scheme for (a) 17 February 2003 to 31 March 2003, and (b) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Maria Eagle: All civil servants are responsible for payment of their own every day home to office travel costs. The introduction of a central London road user charge will not affect this basic condition of service. Any additional costs incurred to the Department by staff on official business as a result of the congestion charging scheme will be just one element within wider costs which have to be met from budgets for official travelling and other costs.
	Information on the number of departmental employees who travel to the central London area on official business is not held centrally. I am therefore unable to give an estimate of the likely cost to the Department.

Age Discrimination

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Government will take powers to make it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of age.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to introducing legislation under the European Employment Directive outlawing age discrimination in employment and vocational training by December 2006.
	The Government have already sought views on a number of general age issues in the consultation document XTowards Equality and Diversity and we intend to consult again on specific proposals by summer 2003.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women when she will publish the results of her inquiry into the economic costs of domestic violence.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The research project is scheduled to conclude in summer 2003 and the report will be published thereafter.

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Minister for Women when the Women and Equality Unit and the Public Carriage Office will publish their package of measures and promotional products regarding reducing domestic violence; and what these measures will include.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The Women and Equality Unit and the Public Carriage Office are continuing to develop plans on awareness raising and domestic violence. We are currently consulting with major charities and with women and children in order to market test a number of propositions. Further details will be announced shortly.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Regional Development Agencies

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to carry out a review of regional development agency boundaries.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have no plans to carry out a review of the regional development agency boundaries.

Regional Development Agencies

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanisms exist for the review of regional development agency boundaries.

Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The boundaries of the regional development agencies are set out in Schedule 1 of the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. Section 1 of that Act provides that any reference in Schedule 1 to a local government or administrative area is to that area as it is for the time being.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

LPG Stations

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of petrol stations in the UK supply liquefied petroleum gas to customers.

Brian Wilson: The Liquid Petroleum Gas Association (LPGA) informed my Department that there is currently a total of 1179 LPG public refuelling stations in UK (including Offshore Islands and Ireland), of which 666 are located at petrol stations.

LPG Stations

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact of requiring (a) new and (b) refurbished petrol stations to provide liquefied petroleum gas.

Brian Wilson: An impact assessment has currently not been undertaken, however at a meeting between my Department and the Liquid Petroleum Gas Association in January this year, the association informed us that new retail sites are opening at a rate approaching one per day. Given the incentives from both DFT and my Department and the rate at which sites are opening, the Government continue to promote, encourage, and more importantly continue to raise the awareness of alternative fuel in particular LPG, by continue working with Energy and Transport Industries.

ASW Sheerness (Receivers)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many meetings the senior executives at GOSE and SEEDA had with (a) management and (b) workforce at ASW Sheerness since 11 July 2002 to discuss its future;
	(2)  what representations she has received from (a) the Chairman and CEO of SEEDA and (b) the GOSE management on the future of ASW Sheerness since 11 July 2002;
	(3)  how many meetings the senior executives at GOSE and SEEDA have had with KPMG as receivers for ASW Sheerness since 11 July 2002.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 18 November 2002
	Since ASW went into administrative receivership on 11 July 2002, the Chief Executive and senior officials from SEEDA and GOSE have remained in close touch with my Department on the future of the company.
	While the company was in the hands of the receiver, KPMG, the DTI has led the contact with the receiver and in these contacts has taken fully into account the representations it has received from SEEDA and GOSE. During this time efforts made at a regional level by partners have concentrated on planning an appropriate response once the receivers have made a decision.

ASW Sheerness (Receivers)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial help she can offer to ensure all of ASW Sheerness mills are kept on site.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 18 November 2002
	The rules governing aid to the steel industry are embodied in the European Commission Multi-Sectoral Framework on state aid and commission communications on rescue, restructuring and closure aid. These rules prohibit the provision of rescue and restructuring aid to steel companies.

Battery Recycling

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she and her officials have had with her European counterparts regarding the recycling of nickel-cadmium batteries; and what plans there are to ban nickel-cadmium batteries (a) throughout the European Union and (b) in the UK.

Brian Wilson: DTI officials have met European Commission officials and key battery organisations such as the European Portable Battery Association and collect NiCad to discuss the recycling of nickel cadmium batteries. DTI officials have also met SAFT, a battery manufacturer that runs the Bat-Re-Back scheme in the UK which accepts all industrial nickel cadmium batteries for recycling.
	Beyond transposing the terms of a Commission Decision amending Annex II of the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, which requires member states to ensure that cadmium in batteries for electric vehicles is not put on the market after 31 December 2005, the UK has no plans at present to ban nickel cadmium batteries. A proposal for a new EU Batteries Directive is currently awaited, and this may call for significant reductions in the use of nickel cadmium batteries throughout the European Union.

College of Arms

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will include members of the College of Arms in the consultation on employment rights for atypical worker.

Alan Johnson: We are currently engaged in a wide-ranging consultation on the issue of employment status, and will include officers of the College in that consultation.

Electricity Supply (Consumer Interruptions)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has received on the number of electricity power supply cuts in each county in England in each of the last 10 years.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 18 November 2002
	Data on interruptions in supply of electricity to consumers is collected by Ofgem. It is gathered on the basis of the geographic areas covered by each distribution licence rather than by county. Reproduced in Tables 1 and 2 are the number of consumer interruptions, together with the consumer minutes lost. These provide an indication of the duration of interruption.
	
		Table 1supply interruptions per 100 connected customers -- % change
		
			  199091 199192 199293 199394 199495 199596 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 199091 to 200102 
		
		
			 Aquila 169.99 110.28 129.44 125.34 121.32 138.57 147.55 131.98 120.82 139.69 147.77 119.94  
			 EME 169.40 81.87 74.54 91.75 96.09 97.16 95.07 93.10 76.47 77.80 91.38 78.82  
			 EPN 75.75 67.50 96.41 59.15 64.77 84.80 89.27 73.71 60.40 66.61 68.83 82.92  
			 Hydro 176.32 204.14 234.61 177.92 174.90 193.20 147.50 153.10 154.40 141.20 131.61 124.71  
			 LPN 40.68 46.67 38.12 35.78 39.71 33.06 38.52 39.18 36.89 36.19 39.75 35.59  
			 NEDL 107.71 90.27 86.69 79.80 88.71 89.96 89.04 90.07 92.59 89.91 98.09 93.65  
			 SP 70.46 70.97 83.10 58.18 61.08 65.46 57.01 72.95 85.75 82.24 91.52 76.27  
			 SPN 111.30 102.91 159.90 99.60 104.00 95.20 89.20 91.00 95.50 89.90 88.50 90.88  
			 Southern 80.08 81.27 82.49 78.21 75.31 79.31 79.02 72.73 63.97 74.37 73.78 99.15  
			 SP Manweb 81.89 73.75 85.86 88.64 70.04 61.50 57.19 57.33 44.13 53.08 53.01 51.60  
			 UU 57.60 61.50 56.69 55.85 69.70 60.50 59.50 83.80 57.60 54.70 54.10 49.36  
			 WPD South. Wales 284.60 228.00 195.28 213.50 219.70 223.30 191.70 185.70 150.20 152.70 158.20 128.40  
			 WPD south-west 146.00 128.50 118.30 119.40 123.90 116.20 105.50 105.50 80.10 90.40 86.50 107.06  
			 YEDL 158.45 69.06 71.82 71.05 84.78 86.49 93.12 80.00 71.79 73.03 69.82 58.70  
			 Average 123.59 101.19 108.09 96.73 99.57 101.77 95.66 95.01 85.04 87.27 89.49 85.50 30.82 
		
	
	Note:
	CIs = the number of customers interrupted per 100 customers per year.
	
		Table 2average customer minutes lost per customer per year -- % change
		
			  199091 199192 199293 199394 199495 199596 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 199091 to 200102 
		
		
			  
			 Aquila 397.76 118.14 122.22 144.12 127.96 151.30 125.97 116.21 99.69 116.95 143.22 122.21  
			 EME 1,003.88 87.34 86.87 97.40 104.93 94.59 78.97 82.24 70.32 71.89 111.62 92.73  
			 EPN 75.60 65.42 90.56 63.34 94.24 84.94 77.47 70.09 52.88 53.00 66.24 67.88  
			 Hydro 172.02 270.26 355.82 254.12 233.00 365.00 205.70 219.50 220.00 123.30 111.46 143.46  
			 LPN 51.31 67.31 52.78 51.80 58.06 53.94 55.92 50.05 45.21 38.76 43.49 36.16  
			 NEDL 245.96 97.03 101.95 102.27 94.66 86.26 81.80 86.64 97.76 85.24 109.76 87.35  
			 SP 85.30 75.58 97.50 76.95 69.92 81.03 88.57 77.36 177.31 76.58 151.88 87.46  
			 SPN 111.60 96.20 118.30 84.10 93.30 77.90 89.30 92.00 75.80 73.20 74.50 88.87  
			 Southern 103.98 109.18 91.30 74.40 77.61 77.98 67.23 56.03 51.63 57.54 68.74 90.85  
			 SP Manweb 185.10 108.46 129.29 120.79 101.80 88.37 77.51 96.70 54.69 55.66 55.09 62.52  
			 UU 87.70 74.70 76.50 68.70 70.00 67.00 65.90 96.40 79.90 62.70 59.70 54.29  
			 WPD South Wales 330.07 325.38 212.33 199.50 212.00 232.70 189.30 182.90 145.20 136.80 123.30 90.53  
			 WPD south-west 185.20 176.00 183.60 167.10 133.10 110.80 103.10 108.40 57.70 64.40 70.00 85.99  
			 YEDL 174.63 59.70 59.30 60.65 68.59 62.29 59.70 59.10 53.70 53.66 56.21 54.78  
			 Average 229.29 123.62 127.02 111.80 109.94 116.72 97.60 99.54 91.56 76.41 88.94 83.22 63.71 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. CMLs = average customer minutes lost per customer per year.
	2. Over the period 199091 to 200102, the number of customer interruptions per 100 connected customers fell by 30.82 per cent. and the average number of customer minutes lost per customer fell by 63.71 per cent.
	3. It is important to note that in order to meet accuracy requirements, the DNOs were required to introduce new measurement systems by April 2002. This has meant that there was an increase in the accuracy of reporting in 200102. In some cases, this may have led to an increase in reported performance despite the underlying performance remaining the same.

Electricity Supply Network

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has received on the number of people employed in maintenance work in relation to the electricity supply network (a) in the last 12 months and (b) the last 12 months before privatisation.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 18 November 2002
	Our study on the Resilience of the Electricity Transmission and Distribution systems carried out by BPI (May 2002) showed that although overall staff numbers have declined, it was very difficult to make direct comparisons between the situation now and how it was pre-privatisation. Organisational boundaries, working practises and technological advances have changed the way companies operate and they all vary in the extent to which they employ direct labour or outsource work.

Hydro-Electricity

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support is being given to encourage the harnessing of the potential for generation of hydro-electricity in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland; and how much support is given to wind generation.

Brian Wilson: The main means through which hydro in the Highlands and Islands and elsewhere is encouraged is through the Renewables Obligation which we introduced on 1 April this year. New hydro plant and existing hydro plant of up to 20 MW (built before 1990 and refurbished since end December 1989) are eligible for the Obligation.
	Wind energy generation, at both onshore and offshore sites in the Highlands and Islands and elsewhere, is also eligible for the Renewables Obligation. In addition, the Government have made provision of #74 million over three years for capital grants for offshore wind energy projects.

Miners' Compensation

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes are to be made to the Claims Handling Agreement to allow for more people to get larger sums of compensation for their illnesses and for different types of illness that can be contracted to be included; and if asthma is to be included in the CHA under circumstances other than temporary exacerbation of the condition.

Brian Wilson: The Claims Handling Agreements arose out of the court proceedings which in 1997 found British Coal liable for Vibration White Finger (VWF) and in 1998 for respiratory disease. The Claims Handling Agreements deal specifically with compensation for conditions considered by the courts. There is no intention to extend them.

Pneumoconiosis Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have been awarded lump sum payments under the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme when under the age of 62 years since 1992.

Brian Wilson: 1,478 claimants under the age of 62 have been awarded lump sum payments under the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme since 1992.

Pneumoconiosis Compensation

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claimants have been awarded weekly benefits under the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme since 1992.

Brian Wilson: 286 claimants have been awarded weekly benefits under the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Scheme since 1992.

Power Failures

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that compensation is paid by the electricity supply companies following the power cuts on and after 27 October 2002.

Brian Wilson: I would urge all customers who feel that their supplier has not fulfilled its responsibility to put in a claim for compensation (which should be made within one month of supply being restored).
	Compensation is a matter for the regulator's office, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) and I know that it is watching the situation closely.
	Compensation is not automatic in the case of storms. Initially, under the guaranteed standards of performance, it is for network operators to decide whether to offer compensation or to invoke an exemption for severe weather.
	Customers can challenge non-payment of compensation through the statutory consumer watchdog, Energywatch, which will liaise with Ofgem.
	In the final instance, after all other routes have been explored, Ofgem can make a determination.
	I welcome the fact that once company has recognised that customers do have rights and has announced that it will be paying compensation in certain circumstances.

Power Failures

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many homes in Essex were without power from 27 October 2002 for (a) 24 hours, (b) 36 hours, (c) 48 hours, (d) three days, (e) four days and (f) more than four days.

Brian Wilson: I have been advised by LE Group that the numbers of customers without electricity in Essex arising from the storm on 27 October 2002 were as follows:
	
		
			 Period without electricity Number of Customers 
		
		
			  
			 (b) up to 36 hours 15,715 
			 (c) up to 48 hours 9,854 
			 (d) up to 3 days (72 hours) 5,976 
			 (e) up to 4 days (96 hours) 2,398 
			 (f) more than 4 days 1,856 
		
	
	With regard to your question (a), LE Group have advised me that they do not have an accurate figure for the number of customers without electricity in Essex after the first 24 hours. However they have confirmed that 159,791 customers in Essex were restored in the first 24 hours after the storm.

Power Failures

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with electricity suppliers since 27 October 2002.

Brian Wilson: The Department has regular discussions with electricity suppliers. However, following the storms of 27 October, I commissioned British Power International (BPI) to carry out an independent review of the extent to which distribution networks were able to withstand severe weather, and how the distribution licence holders handled the emergency caused by the recent storms. The electricity network operators who are to be reviewed are:
	London Electricity Group, including 24 seven (covering the Eastern, London and Seeboard distribution areas);
	Scottish and Southern Energy (in respect of the Southern area);
	Western Power Distribution (covering the south-west and South Wales);
	Powergen (covering the east midlands);
	Aquila (covering the west midlands);
	Scottish Power (in respect of the MANWEB area); and
	United Utilities (which manages the network in the north-west).
	The review has already started and involves detailed questions to each of the companies. Initial findings will be published by the end of December.

Regional Selective Assistance

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) amount and (b) proportion of the Government's budget for regional selective assistance to the Government's south west zone has been allocated to (a) Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and (b) the remainder of its zone in each of the last four years for which information is available.

Alan Johnson: Based on offers of regional selective assistance made: 
	
		
			  Value (# million) Per cent of total south west region 
		
		
			 199899   
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 8.1 57 
			 Remainder of south west region 6.1 43 
			
			 19992000   
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 2.1 25 
			 Remainder of south west region 6.2 75 
			
			 200001   
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 1.0 12 
			 Remainder of south west region 7.6 88 
			
			 200102   
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 4.8 57 
			 Remainder of south west region 3.6 43

Storm Damage

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on sustainable energy requirements in the British Isles.

Brian Wilson: The Government are currently carrying out a review of future energy policy with a view to issuing a White Paper in the new year. The White Paper will show how energy policy fits within the Government's overall approach to sustainable development.

Storm Damage

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of the damage to the electricity distribution network caused by trees and branches during recent storms; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans she has to resume cutting back trees and branches close to power lines to avoid disruption to power supplies; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: On 29 October 2002, I commissioned British Power International (BPI), to carry out an independent review of how the distribution licence holders handled the emergency caused by the recent storms. The electricity network operators who are to be reviewed are:
	London Electricity Group including 24 seven (covering the Eastern, London and Seeboard distribution areas);
	Scottish  Southern Energy (in respect of the Southern area);
	Western Power Distribution (covering the South West and South Wales);
	Powergen (covering the East Midlands);
	Aquila (covering the West Midlands);
	Scottish Power (in respect of the MANWEB area)
	United Utilities (which manages the network in the North West)
	The review has already started and initial findings will be published by the end of December. The study will include an assessment of the condition of the network and its ability to withstand such storms. This includes the degree to which trees and branches have been lopped to prevent them falling on lines during the high winds.

Vibration White Finger

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, under what circumstances would someone get compensation under the Claims Handling Agreement for illness contracted from mining work.

Brian Wilson: The Department has two Claims Handling Agreements (CHA's which cover illnesses contracted from mining work. One covers Respiratory Disease and the other covers Vibration White Finger (VWF). The Agreements set out in detail the circumstances in which miners or their families are eligible for compensation.
	In order for a claimants to pursue a claim for Respiratory disease the miner needs to have worked after 4 June 1954 for mines in England and Wales, and after 4 June 1949 for mines in Scotland, as well as show signs of respiratory illness as covered by the CHA. In order to pursue a claim for Vibration White Finger the miner must have worked in mines after 1 January 1975 and show signs of Vibration White Finger. Any compensation which claimants then receive for either type of illness would be dependent upon results of a Medical Assessment, the years spent working in the mine, the type of work undertaken, other factors that may influence a claimant's ill health, as well as other factors stipulated under the agreements.